Who Should Be The Panthers Primary Backup Quarterback?

Republished By Plato

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After headlining their offseason with the selection of Bryce Young, the Panthers have options regarding their backup quarterback position. The hope is that Young will be able to play the whole season, but having a solid backup in place is necessary for any team hoping to contend. With two intriguing options, the Panthers are left with a difficult decision for their depth chart.

The Options

In the 2022 NFL Draft the Panthers chose Matt Corral with the 94th overall pick. At the time there was an expectation that he could take over as the future quarterback for the franchise.

Given how the season went, the Ole Miss product would have seen the field if not for a season-ending injury to his left foot in August. He received high praise prior to the injury and looked poised to shine. Now with Young in the building, it’s unclear what Carolina’s long term plan for Corral is.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Panthers have a proven option at backup. Before drafting Young, Carolina signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to a two year deal. Dalton started 14 games for the New Orleans Saints last season, throwing for over 2,800 yards. He threw 18 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and led the team to an underwhelming 6-8 record.

He wasn’t phenomenal by any means, but serves as a top-tier backup. This leaves the Panthers with a question of youth and potential against veteran leadership.

Readiness

Regarding readiness to take the field at any given moment, Dalton is the clear choice. He was a starting quarterback just last year and has proven time and time again to be a serviceable option. He has started at least six games every year of his NFL career, being thrown in at unexpected times on multiple occasions.

The results haven’t always been there, but he’s proven that he can be implemented into an offense at a moment’s notice. Corral’s injury also remains as somewhat of a question mark. He seems to have progressed beyond it, but there will always be concerns any time a player returns from a season-ending injury.

Performance

Despite having yet to play in a regular season NFL game, Matt Corral proved his worth in college. He steadily improved in each of his four years at Ole Miss, culminating in a great final season. In his senior year he led the Rebels to a 10-3 record while throwing for 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

He ended his college career with 8,287 yards and 57 touchdowns. He even suited up for the team’s bowl game despite being a draft prospect, and subsequently suffered an injury. It was publicized that he understood the risk regarding his draft stock, but wanted to play one more game with his team.

Andy Dalton was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 35th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. In his nine-year tenure with the Bengals, he led them to the playoffs on multiple occasions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, including his rookie season.

Between his time in Cincinnati and New Orleans, he also played for the Cowboys and Bears. His career totals now sit at 83 wins, 38,150 yards, and 244 touchdowns. He’s had a quiet career for the most part, but has certainly made his mark in the NFL.

Potential and Familiarity

Given his age, Corral has a definite advantage over Dalton in certain regards. One of those is his potential. Having been one of the top quarterbacks in a recent draft class, no one knows exactly what Corral will be. If he is presented with an opportunity and proceeds to shine, the Panthers could end up using him as a trade piece.

The Panthers are set with Young, but quarterback-needy teams might pounce on a high-potential young guy. Having him sit on the bench as a third-string won’t present the opportunity to display what he can do.

He even has a former-teammate he can look to if he ends up on the field. He played with Panthers rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo at Ole Miss, meaning the two have a pre-established connection. It’s clear that Dalton may be the safe bet, but there are definite upsides to giving Corral a chance to prove his worth.