The Carolina Panthers have a big decision to make about the upcoming NFL season. Do they want to keep Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback, install P.J. Walker as their starter, bring Cam Newton back, or draft or trade for the quarterback of their future?
Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo seemed to confirm what the team’s decision was on Tuesday before pulling that back just a couple of minutes later.
"Sam is our starting quarterback, yes." – Panthers OC Ben McAdoo
"That wasn't something I should have said." – Panthers OC Ben McAdoo a short while later pic.twitter.com/hpLTFBxuKR
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 19, 2022
“Sam is our starting quarterback, yes,” said McAdoo when asked if Darnold was the starter right now for the team. While noting that head coach Matt Rhule has the ultimate say over that decision, he added that “the way it is in the building right now, Sam is our starting quarterback.”
However, a very short amount of time later the coach appeared to realize he’d spoken out of turn and recanted.
“One of the things I’ve been working on is being better talking to you people, so announcing the starting quarterback here I just put my foot in my mouth. That wasn’t something I should have said,” said McAdoo.
At the moment, Darnold and Walker are the only quarterbacks under contract, so in theory, it’s entirely possible that’s true. However, all signs point to the Panthers looking at potentially drafting a quarterback with the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. So while Darnold might be the starter on paper, he certainly hasn’t won the job as far as anyone can tell.
Given the way last season went for Darnold, it’s hard to imagine the franchise is too excited about relying on him moving forward.
The Panthers have used seven of their 30 official visits on the quarterback position, meeting with Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, and others.
McAdoo, who spent two years as the head coach of the New York Giants, is perhaps being reminded right about now that, as the offensive coordinator, there are certain questions best left to the Panthers’ head coach to answer.
