Carolina Panthers make decision on Baker Mayfield

Head coach Matt Rhule was going to bring a quarterback to Carolina this offseason. After whiffing on Sam Darnold as the franchise guy, a fresh face was needed for the Panthers to become a leader. On Friday, they drafted Matt Corral out of Ole Miss in the third round, adding the SEC quarterback to the roster.

Because of the pick, Carolina will no longer pursue Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, according to general manager Scott Fitterer. The two organizations were reportedly having “active talks” about a trade but with Corral joining the Panthers, those talks are over.

Mayfield will now remain on the trade market, with the Browns looking to trade him before the 2022 regular season begins. Carolina had been considered the favorite for some time but Cleveland will have to talk with other teams around the league if they want to make a move.

Mayfield is on the fifth year of his rookie contract and if the Browns are not able to move him, he will become a free agent next offseason. However, Cleveland will want to get something in return for the former No. 1 overall pick. Unfortunately for them, it will not be coming from the Panthers.

Carolina Panthers pass on Baker Mayfield, select Corral in NFL Draft

With the No. 94 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the third round. The Panthers likely selected him because of a strong final college season with the Rebels, where his production remained high despite personnel losses from the 2020 season.

The Panthers traded the No. 137 overall pick and a future third-rounder to the New England Patriots for the No. 94 pick.

Corral entered the draft projected as a top-5 quarterback, with concerns about his physical attributes seeming to lower his draft stock. Despite these concerns, analysts all agreed on the type of leadership Corral brings to the field and the competitor that he is. The lasting image from a phenomenal stretch as quarterback for Ole Miss was Corral standing alongside his teammates on crutches after suffering a high-ankle sprain during their bowl game — still leading the team.

Corral was a former four-star recruit according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Corral was the fifth-highest-rated quarterback of the 2018 recruiting class.

In 2020, Corral had his breakout season and led the FBS in total offense with 384.3 yards per game. He ranked top-ten in passing efficiency, touchdowns and yards in his 10 starts — and was a Manning Award finalist.