The quarterback position is up for grabs in Carolina after a disappointing 2021 campaign from Sam Darnold. After Darnold posted just 2,527 yards, 9 TDs and 13 picks in 12 games, the Panthers traded up to draft QB Matt Corral in the third round of this year’s NFL draft. Corral was reportedly the top QB on Carolina’s draft board after leading Ole Miss to a 10-3 season and the No. 8 ranking in the country.
Darnold has been named the starter “for now,” by head coach Matt Rhule, but it’s no secret that Corral will eventually contend for the starting job once he learns the playbook.
“When I know (the playbook), I’ll be ready to compete,” Corral told 247 Sports’ Austin Nivison. “When Coach (Ben McAdoo) thinks I’m ready, then I’ll be ready.”
Corral was responsible for 20 TDs in the air as well as 11 on the ground last season, and some of those rushing scores were anything but walk-ins. Here’s a video of Corral on a QB draw – he gets caught up around the three but lunges across for the score.
Matt Corral with his 2nd rushing TD of the day pic.twitter.com/zrzgZG9cYu
— Boom or Bust: The Draft Show (@BoomOrBustDraft) October 9, 2021
Corral is smaller than Darnold at 6’1” 205 lbs, but similar to the USC product, he isn’t afraid to seek out contact to get the extra yard. His quick release and feisty running style made for a fun-to-watch gunslinger in the SEC last year and gave a lot of people flashes of a college Darnold. For that reason, Corral has been watching Darnold closely at OTAs and trying to learn from his professionalism.
“Just picking up on his habits on how he handles himself and how he goes about stuff from the media, on the field, off the field, certain situations,” Corral said. “Me taking stuff from him, whatever it is, and trying to implement it into my game. If I feel like it doesn’t fit, then I won’t use it. But there are some things I take away from him.”
Meanwhile, Darnold is handling his competition much better than Ryan Tannehill over in Tennessee. Corral and Darnold have been learning the offense together during OTAs, and Darnold has been teaching him how he goes about his business in the league.
“Matt’s been great, you know, we’re just learning together,” Darnold said. “I’m just trying to teach him some things that you wouldn’t necessarily learn in college like cadence… I’m just trying to teach him as much as possible.”
Matt Rhule has always been big on team building and trust, so it’s a good sign to see the two QBs have a mutually beneficial rapport before training camp.
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