Can Sam Darnold save Panthers career? Why QB’s 2023 season may be last hope

Sam Darnold is not exactly the most popular quarterback in the NFL.

His journey has not gone to plan and at the start of the 2022 season it looked like he was destined for the role of a career backup or worse. Injuries and interceptions have damaged his confidence, with the latter becoming the source of much mockery.

So when the Carolina Panthers announced they were entering contract talks with Darnold last week, it was met with some surprise. With Derek Carr at the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers looking increasingly like becoming a New York Jet, Sam Darnold might get another chance.

This may feel like déjà vu, because this has happened to Darnold before. Darnold missed a large chunk of the 2022 campaign due to a preseason injury and initially looked set to be Baker Mayfield's backup. Most figured he would be released in 2023, but fast forward to now and Carolina are looking to keep Sam Darnold around.

What may save Darnold is that the Panthers are rebuilding. With a new head coach in Frank Reich and plenty of holes to fill on their roster, going in heavy for a big-name veteran doesn't necessarily make sense. Nor does trading capital to move up in the draft, especially when there are other areas of concern and they selected a QB last season.

Frank Reich has been bitten by QB trades in recent years, with Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz potentially playing a big part in why he lost his job in Indianapolis. So, there is a good chance the Panthers will play it safe here.

Carolina have tipped their hat with multiple quarterbacks, not just last season but since they let Cam Newton go in March 2020. It hasn't worked, to say the least, and the franchise could benefit from a less reactionary approach.

With Carolina appearing unwilling to take unnecessary risks, Darnold looks set to get one last chance in the 2023 season.

Does Sam Darnold deserve another shot as the Panthers starting quarterback?

The 2022 season was a tumultuous one for Carolina's quarterbacks. Darnold missed a lot of the season, as mentioned above. Baker Mayfield flopped and with rookie Matt Coral out for the season, P.J. Walker got his shot at being the starter in Week 5.

Walker had an exciting but enigmatic run, but as Carolina struggled to record wins, the franchise opted to give Sam Darnold a chance in Week 12.

Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers' matchup with the New Orleans Saints

Long story short, Darnold performed better than many expected him to, and went 4-2 as their starter. It's hard to pin the resurgence of the Panthers on Darnold alone, as post-Matt Rhule (Week 6 onwards) we saw improvements all over the field.

However, Darnold looked gutsy, determined and far less like the nervy young quarterback who was once "seeing ghosts." The Panthers looked for a short while like they might even win the NFC South, a surprise given their 1-4 start.

Darnold threw for 1,143 yards, 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in six games. He showed a willingness to put his body on the line and ran the ball 26 times for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns. While no one was in awe of his numbers, many were quietly impressed with his play and his demeanor.

Sam Darnold could be a solid transitional quarterback for the Panthers. This feels like his last chance, but if he plays his part well he could become a stand-in problem solver for other teams in the future.

If Carolina likes what they see in Matt Coral, keeping Sam Darnold around makes a lot of sense. As backups go, Darnold is as good as you can get, and as for starters, the Panthers could do a lot worse.