Panthers hosting potential first-round quarterback on Wednesday
The Panthers are hosting a quarterback they’ve been linked to on multiple occasions on Wednesday, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported former Pittsburgh star quarterback Kenny Pickett is in Carolina
#Pitt QB Kenny Pickett, one of the potential top quarterbacks in the draft, visits the #Panthers today, source said,” tweeted Rapoport. “Carolina picks sixth overall and has been hosting QBs this week.”
As Panthers coach Matt Rhule looks for his quarterback of the future, Pickett has been linked to Carolina due to his immense experience. The former Pittsburgh star has played a lot of football, and has improved every step of the way. The belief is Rhule needs to win now to save his job, and Pickett would give him the most pro-ready of all the quarterbacks available in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Immediately, Pickett would step in and challenge incumbent starter Sam Darnold for the starting job. While some debate whether any quarterback is worthy of being drafted No. 6 overall — where the Panthers are slotted to select — it may be Carolina’s only shot at a rookie quarterback.
Time will tell if the Panthers decide Kenny Pickett is their future, but it’s evident Carolina is doing their due diligence on the star quarterback.
College football insider reveals crazy fact about Matt Rhule, Kenny Pickett relationship
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers are among the teams most interested in the available quarterbacks as the 2022 NFL Draft approaches. While multiple names have been linked to the franchise, FOX’s Bruce Feldman joined The Herd with Colin Cowherd to explain how Matt Rhule could gravitate towards Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett due to a prior relationship.
“Start with the fit here. Matt Rhule, obviously his seat is getting warm, they have struggled,” started Feldman. “Matt Rhule actually, back when he was, before he was at Baylor, was the coach at Temple. Kenny Pickett was actually committed to him at one point in high school. So, there is familiarity.
“I think Matt Rhule and his staff knows that you have a guy who is a very mature quarterback. Has played a lot of football. He came from a pro style, west coast offense. Has done a lot of the things, in terms of scheme-wise that can translate to the NFL. He’s a good athlete. I don’t know if people give him enough credit — he does move well. If you look at the Clemson game, he did make big time throws. Does he has Josh Allen’s arm, does he have Malik’s arm? Probably not to that caliber. But he has a good enough arm. And I think when you talk to people who faced him, they’re like, he’s a really, really good college quarterback. And they think he will translate well.
“I think he’s more ready to come in. Whereas Malik, who has a cannon for an arm, but came from Hugh Freeze’s system. Which is RPO heavy. There’s some consistency concerns, a little bit. And I think there is, will he be ready to jump into an NFL system immediately. Hit the ground running. So, I think in terms of if you’re the Panthers, and you need to get it going a little sooner. He’s maybe the safer pick — Kenny Pickett.”
Throughout his time with the Panthers, Rhule hasn’t been shy about bringing in players he’s comfortable with from his prior stops in coaching. Like Pickett, Rhule was enamored with wide receiver Robbie Anderson while coaching at Temple, and Anderson was a star for the Owls. In one of his first moves as the Panthers coach, Rhule brought Anderson to Carolina from the New York Jets.
Nevertheless, the Panthers’ decision at quarterback will shape the future of their franchise Whether Matt Rhule chooses Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis or someone else, his future depends on the decision.