As we inch closer to the 2022 NFL draft, now with less than a month to go, the Carolina Panthers seem to be inching closer to a new quarterback. Well, at least they are according to the eyes from the outside looking in.
One set of those eyes belongs to NBC Sports columnist Peter King, who dished out his forecast for the draft’s top 10 selections late Sunday night. As part of his regular “Football Morning in America” feature, the longtime NFL scribe predicts the Panthers—given their past and current connections to one of the class’ top passers—go for a certain Pitt Panther.
“When Matt Rhule was the Temple head coach in the spring of 2016, he sealed the deal with top QB recruit Kenny Pickett from south Jersey,” King wrote. “When Rhule took the Baylor job, Pickett de-committed and went to Pitt … and made the most of his opportunity there. You just get the sense the Panthers aren’t sold on Sam Darnold and are desperate for an upgrade. Drafting Pickett (2021: 67-percent passer, 42 TDs, seven interceptions) is no sure thing, at all. But the Panthers are still searching at quarterback, and Pickett would give them hope.”
Perhaps “hope” isn’t exactly the sentiment amongst the Carolina faithful, but at least it isn’t Sam Darnold, right?
In addition to King’s feel on the situation, the Panthers players themselves don’t seem to be all in on the soon-to-be fifth-year quarterback either. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, Darnold’s teammates aren’t “sold” on him moving forward.
We’ll see how sold the Panthers actually are on Pickett come April 28.
