Can QB Matt Corral start Week 1 for the Panthers? What film tells us about the rookie

The NFL told everyone exactly how it felt about the 2022 rookie quarterback class.

For the first time since 2000, only one quarterback went in the first two rounds. Fifty-four players were picked between the Steelers’ first-round selection of Kenny Pickett and the second quarterback picked, Desmond Ridder, who leapfrogged Liberty’s Malik Willis and went No. 74 to Atlanta. Some experts mocked Willis as high as No. 2 overall.

Twelve selections later, Tennessee nabbed Willis. Then, Carolina pounced on Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, trading a fifth-rounder and their 2023 third-round pick to New England for No. 94.

That the quarterbacks fell so far exposes an always present (but often unnoticed) disconnect between narrative and accurate player evaluation. There is no one to blame. Selecting a quarterback is the highest form of Pro Football Texas Hold em’. There is no incentive for quarterback-needy owners, general managers, and head coaches to even tell their significant other what quarterback they like and when they may target him. Why feed anyone such priceless intel?

Thus, Ridder, Willis, Corral, and Sam Howell (fifth-round pick) all went far later than the public anticipated. But draft status does not dictate NFL destiny. Geography does. And Corral landed in a quarterback room ripe for the taking.

Can he win the job? His performances in rookie minicamp, OTAs, mandatory minicamp, training camp, and eventually preseason games will determine his Week 1 role. But it’s clear why the Panthers traded into the third round for him. The tape explains why coach Matt Rhule, General Manager Scott Fitterer, and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo believe in Corral.

Let’s examine what he brings to the Panthers quarterback room.

A quick, strong arm

Corral has the quickest release in his class. Ask any evaluator. It’s the one thing they agreed on. His motion is so tight and compact. The Panthers’ offense can be built to maximize his most pro-ready asset.

It would take some adapting from McAdoo, but imagine Carolina running an offense similar to Miami’s set. The Dolphins hung 31 points on the Panthers last season. Tua Tagovailoa completed 27 of 31 throws for 231 yards and a touchdown.

If Corral plays early this season, installing as much of Ole Miss’s offense as possible benefits Carolina. The closest thing to an Ole Miss offense in the pros is Miami. Take the below example.

On the first play of Ole Miss vs. Alabama, Corral connects on a 12-yard quick-hitting RPO throw to a slanting wide receiver. This play highlights his snappy release combined with a tone-setting throw.

I love seeing a quarterback and play-caller start a game aggressive but calculated. Corral completed a high percentage throw for an explosive play. Expect him to start NFL drives this way eventually.

There is also a lot of zip on his throws. Even his check downs come out hot. There is not a throw he cannot make. Sometimes he doesn’t step into attempts enough, leaving more desired at the end. But his arm strength comes naturally as shown below.

The above throw came on a first-and-10 shot from mid-field. Corral avoided an interior rusher, pirouetted left, and reset at his own 40-yard line before launching a ball 60 yards in the air.

It’s nearly a touchdown. Perhaps it’s a little underthrown but all the elements of a big-time, game-changing, pro football toss are there.

Whether it’s the deep ball or throwing quick-game, Corral tends to fit balls into tight windows. He carries out the goals of his play-caller very well. Think of him like a point guard or shortstop playing quarterback.

Calm, quick feet

An excellent throwing quarterback must have calm and controlled feet. Corral impresses with how consistent his dropbacks are. Rarely does he become overexcited or rushed.

On these next two plays, pay attention to how quickly he resets his feet after chaos while always keeping his eyes downfield.

This 14-yard completion came late in the fourth quarter with Ole Miss down multiple scores. Corral showcased his ability to escape, sound footwork, and arm strength. After escaping a rush, Corral hit his target on a deep out, placing the ball low and away from defenders.

It’s a very difficult throw, and he made it look easy.

On this next play, the Rebels broke a 45-45 tie with fewer than 90 seconds to play by calling double hitch-and-goes for the outside receivers.

This is not the best example of Corral’s full-field reading abilities. Mirror concepts (same routes on each side of the field) aren’t common in the NFL. Still, he did a nice job entertaining the left side before taking the top off the Razorbacks’ right sideline.

Playmaking athleticism

There are hundreds of examples of Corral running the football. He had 1,120 yards rushing on 264 carries over his last two college seasons. He had 11 touchdowns last season and 15 over two years.

He was a college football rushing weapon. But in the pros, he must control that innate instinct to take off and lower his shoulder. However, that doesn’t mean don’t run.

Rhule wants to rush the football. Corral is an RPO master. In the red zone, his athleticism could translate into a math problem for defenses.

Above is a quarterback power touchdown run. Corral scored by following his pulling right guard and leading backs into the end zone.

Corral rushing cannot be his go-to pro move but it can be icing on what should be an exciting rookie campaign.