Panthers trade up for Matt Corral, putting Mayfield talks on ice

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 94 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers trade up for Ole Miss QB Matt Corral, putting Baker Mayfield talks on ice

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/29/22

The Carolina Panthers traded up in the third round of the draft to select Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.

Carolina dealt the No. 137 pick in this year's draft and a third-round pick in the 2023 draft to the New England Patriots for the No. 94 pick.

O.K. Corral pic.twitter.com/G5an9b9pAJ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 30, 2022

The quarterback-needy Panthers moved up to draft a signal-caller despite being linked to Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

According to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, the Panthers weren't willing to pay the percentage of Mayfield's contract that the Browns wanted, ultimately deciding to move up and draft Corral instead.

Panthers were not interested in paying the salary needed to get Baker Mayfield. Decided to instead take their swing on Matt Corral. https://t.co/osSy6ExBzW
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 30, 2022

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reiterated the reports that the talks between Cleveland and Carolina regarding Mayfield have stalled. Rapoport also noted that the Panthers viewed Corral's film as the best of all the quarterbacks in the draft. However, the Panthers know Corral, who has had off-the-field issues, will be a work in progress.

Last season, Corral played in 13 games for the Rebels, completing 67.9% of his passes, throwing for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions.

In 37 career games at Ole Miss, Corral finished with a completion percentage of 67.3 and threw for 8,287 yards, 57 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

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