NFL 2022: Predicting the starting QB for all 32 teams pre-NFL Free Agency

Carolina Panthers: Draft Kenny Pickett

I’m not coming too far off this prediction for the time being.

The connections between the Carolina Panthers and Kenny Pickett are obvious at this point. Everyone knows that Pickett once committed to play for Matt Rhule when Rhule was the head coach at Temple.

Even though Pickett de-committed from the Owls and wound up becoming a Pitt Panther, I think Rhule would still love to have him as his quarterback today.

The Panthers made a bold (should we call it bold?) trade for Sam Darnold last offseason, banking on his potential, and through the first three games of the 2021 season it looked like they made a great decision there.

Fast forward through the final 14 games of the 2021 season and that trade looks like an ugly mistake.

If the Panthers don’t have a clear solution at the QB position by the end of the 2022 season, Rhule and his staff will probably be let go. That’s the unfortunate reality of things.

They’ve been aggressive and borderline reckless with their draft capital, so they have to get this selection right.

Pickett has flaws in his game but he’s tough, he’s got a lot of experience under his belt, and it sounds like he blew teams away in the interview process at the 2022 Senior Bowl.