Panthers trade up to select Ole Miss QB Matt Corral in third round of 2022 NFL Draft

#1:Panthers trade up to select Ole Miss QB Matt Corral in third round of 2022 NFL Draft 

 Carolina picked Corral with the No. 94 overall selection, which they got from the Patriots in exchange for the 137th overall pick (fourth round) and a 2023 third-round selection.

Trade talks surrounded Carolina all day Friday, as NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Bridget Condon all reported talks were ongoing with the Panthers and Cleveland Browns about quarterback Baker Mayfield. Instead, the Panthers swapped with the Pats and grabbed Corral.

A polarizing yet gifted quarterback, Corral's maturity has come under scrutiny during the pre-draft process but his dual-threat abilities en route to averaging an FBS-leading 384.3 yards of total offense per game can't be ignored.

Corral was the fourth quarterback selected in the draft, but he could very well have the best chance at a starting job. Sam Darnold is currently atop a shaky Carolina depth chart as head coach Matt Rhule continues to reach for a franchise quarterback heading into his third season at the Panthers helm.

Rhule clarified that Darnold remains atop said depth chart -- for now, at least.

"[Corral is] not walking in Day 1 as a starter," Rhule said Friday night, via The Athletic's Joe Person. "Sam [Darnold] is our starter."

The Ole Miss product spent two seasons as a full-time starter, surpassing the 3,300-yard passing mark in each campaign. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2021. In 2020, he led the FBS with 384.3 total yards per game (passing and rushing).

Ideal for the RPO game, Corral boasts a quick trigger and excellent athleticism. The 6-foot-1 QB is a bit undersized, but with a bulldog mentality, he fearlessly runs into harm's way to make plays. Corral owns the ability to avoid pressure in the pocket and escape to turn potential losses into positive gains.

There are durability concerns given his playing style and lighter frame. Notably, he suffered an ankle injury in the Sugar Bowl. X-rays on the injury were negative, but kept Corral from participating in much of the physical parts of the draft process.

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