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NFL 2022: The biggest weakness of each NFC South team

By Lucas Schuh

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 19: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball as he is hit by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the 4th quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 19: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball as he is hit by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the 4th quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 26: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers run off the field following the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 26: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers run off the field following the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers’ biggest weakness in 2022 NFL season: Quarterback

Since Cam Newton has left his prime, the Panthers have been struggling to find a quality QB.

Newton was the 1st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Panthers, and in his first few years in Carolina, things were a bit up and down. Newton had all the physical talent in the world, tall, strong, big, fast, agile, cannon arm. He had it all.

The two things he struggled with though were consistency and accuracy.

Cam had incredible flashes of talent but struggled with consistency, that was until 2015. 2015 was Newton’s best career season as he put it all together and won the MVP while helping take the Panthers to the Super Bowl, where they would ultimately lose to Denver Broncos 24-10.

That would be the best season that Newton would have as a Panther as he left Carolina in 2020, until returning in 2021 for a short stint.

Since Newton has left Carolina, the Panthers have only had a handful of starting QBs as the likes of Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, and most recently, Sam Darnold has made their way to the starting QB job in Carolina.

Allen and Teddy only lasted one season as the starting QB in Carolina, but it looks like Darnold might last more than one, keyword might.

Darnold was drafted early on in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Sam spent a few seasons in New York but struggled greatly as he struggled with his play, while his teammates also struggled.

During the 2021 offseason, the Panthers would trade a 2021 6th round pick and a 2nd and 4th round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for Sam Darnold. It was clear that the Darnold trade was a bit of a reclamation project for Darnold as he struggled in his first NFL stint in New York.

While Carolina was hopeful he would be able to turn things around, especially with a better offensive line than he had in New York and some good receiving weapons in DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, that wasn’t the case.

Darnold only managed to play 12 games last season but finished with more interceptions than he did touchdowns as he had nine touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. Plain and simple, Darnold was not the QB that Carolina hoped he would be.

Carolina is at least trying to mitigate this problem in the future with the drafting of Matt Corral. Carolina drafted Corrall in the 3rd round, so there’s a clear lack of top-tier confidence in what Corral is.

Corral has some potential and showed some ability while at Ole Miss, but he clearly won’t be battling for a starting spot this season.

Carolina has some decent pieces on this roster with a good group of wide receivers, a strong defensive line, and a promising young secondary, but the lack of a quality QB will hamstring this team.

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