ESPN "Future" Power Rankings/Ratings

[kungfoodude]

31. Carolina Panthers
Overall score: 69.0

CATEGORY	SCORE	NFL RANK
Overall roster (minus QB)	73.8	26
Quarterback	65.5	28
Coaching	60.8	32
Draft	73.5	27
Front office	70.8	31

 

 

Why they're here: The Panthers' defense is terrific, and that alone gives some reason for optimism. But two question marks persist for this franchise: the long-term solution under center (even after the Baker Mayfield deal) and the future of coach Matt Rhule. Rhule was handed a seven-year contract when he took over in Carolina, but there appears to be a lot of pressure on him and the franchise to take a leap this season. Mayfield, like Sam Darnold, is under contract for only one more season. -- Yates

Biggest worry: Who will be coaching the Panthers beyond 2022? This team appears desperate and doesn't seem to have a great plan for how to manage the QB position, and that usually results in people losing their jobs. -- Riddick

What could change for the better: This is not the worst roster in the league. Far from it. The quarterback issues cloud a quality talent base. But the offensive line must improve, which the team has worked tirelessly on, drafting Ikem Ekwonu and signing Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett. Linebacker needs upgrades, with multiple starters having bounced around the league. But Carolina's outlook isn't as dire as it looks. -- Fowler

Stat to know: Matt Corral recorded back-to-back top-10 QBR seasons over the past two years in college (89.9 and 80.5). If there's a reason to have long-term hope in him as a solution at QB, it's that: He was a productive college QB for multiple years. Carolina has Mayfield and Darnold in the fold, but Corral could be part of the future plans under center. -- Walder

[Panthercougar68]

“Outlook isn’t as dire as it looks” but people will skim over that.

basically it’s all qb and coaching 

[TheCasillas]

As rich eisen said “all it takes is for the panthers to catch fire, and it flips this narrative on its head. That’s just football, no one really knows.”

Edited July 20, 2022 by TheCasillas

[rayzor]

3 minutes ago, Panthercougar68 said:

basically it’s all qb and coaching 

which is kind of a big deal...and why we deserve the 31st spot.

at least until we start winning more than 3 games at the beginning of the season.

[w280sax]

I like how they compliment the roster minus qb in the text and then rank it 26. 

Maybe I am a Homer but I think we are better than 26.

Head coach =32, qb=28, front office=31.  Oof

[joemac]

3 minutes ago, w280sax said:

I like how they compliment the roster minus qb in the text and then rank it 26. 

Maybe I am a Homer but I think we are better than 26.

Head coach =32, qb=28, front office=31.  Oof

Baker is much better than the 28th QB in the NFL, IMO. 

[poundaway]

 "This is not the worst roster in the league. Far from it."   Roster rank 26

"But Carolina's outlook isn't as dire as it looks."    Overall rank: 31

Just more fuel for the fire.

 

[MasterAwesome]

38 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

31. Carolina Panthers
Overall score: 69.0

Nice.

[4Corners]

What a stupid article and opinion. We all dumber now from being exposed to this 

[Shotgun]

[kungfoodude]

24 minutes ago, w280sax said:

I like how they compliment the roster minus qb in the text and then rank it 26. 

Maybe I am a Homer but I think we are better than 26.

Head coach =32, qb=28, front office=31.  Oof

Yeah, that had me scratching my head too. It felt like back handed compliments.

[kungfoodude]

20 minutes ago, joemac said:

Baker is much better than the 28th QB in the NFL, IMO. 

I don't know how much better but I would hope better than 28th. Seems like at least top 25.

19 minutes ago, poundaway said:

 "This is not the worst roster in the league. Far from it."   Roster rank 26

"But Carolina's outlook isn't as dire as it looks."    Overall rank: 31

Just more fuel for the fire.

 

The actual rankings versus what was said was very strange.

[joemac]

12 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I don't know how much better but I would hope better than 28th. Seems like at least top 25.

The actual rankings versus what was said was very strange.

Just off the top of my head, I think hes better than Geno Smith/Drew Lock, Sam Darnold, Jared Goff, Mac Jones, Davis Mills, Daniel Jones, Marcus Marriota, Jameis Winston, Mitch Trubisky, Zach Wilson, Jimmy G, Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence.  I put him in the Jalen Hurts/Tua/Tannehill/Matt Ryan tier. Middle of the pack, IMO. 

[kungfoodude]

24 minutes ago, joemac said:

Just off the top of my head, I think hes better than Geno Smith/Drew Lock, Sam Darnold, Jared Goff, Mac Jones, Davis Mills, Daniel Jones, Marcus Marriota, Jameis Winston, Mitch Trubisky, Zach Wilson, Jimmy G, Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence.  I put him in the Jalen Hurts/Tua/Tannehill/Matt Ryan tier. Middle of the pack, IMO. 

Most of those guys aren't starters, though. Still, if we out a comprehensive lost up, I bet most would rate him higher than 28. Maybe that would be an interesting thread. Put up a list of the starting QB's(with the open jobs grouped as a unit) and see where Huddlers rank him.