Panthers weighing QB vs. OL at No. 6 in NFL Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is not being touted for its quarterback class, but the Carolina Panthers may take a chance at drafting one anyway.

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer admitted the organization will have a hard decision to make. The expectation is that quality offensive linemen will be available when the team selects with the No. 6 pick. Fitterer admitted, however, that a quarterback could very much be on their radar.

“This will be interesting because the tackles will be the best players on the board,” Fitterer said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “But we do need a quarterback, and at some point you have to take a shot, especially in the top 10. You hate to force it, because when you force it, you could make a mistake. It’s a unique quarterback class, because there’s not a clear number one, number two, number three. Like, who’s the proven starter who can come in and play for you? That’ll be the conversation we have for the next month — quarterback or left tackle.”

Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder are considered the best quarterbacks in the draft and the Panthers are apparently intrigued by at least three of them. Whether they can justify making one of them the selection at No. 6 is a fair question given the opinions about this group of quarterbacks. The choice could ultimately make or break Fitterer and the Panthers for years to come.