For Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett, these next couple of months will be monumental in shaping his future success. He knows the 2022 NFL Draft is coming up in April, where he’s expected to be a first-round selection for some lucky franchise.
With so much uncertainty at the quarterback position for several teams around the league, from Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and even the retirement of Tom Brady, many franchises might need to find a new QB1 during the 2022 NFL offseason.
Not included in that group above, are the Carolina Panthers, who struggled with Sam Darnold and Cam Newton under center in 2021. Perhaps their biggest priority on the offseason to-do list is addressing the QB position.
Fans of the Panthers will be thrilled to hear that one of the top prospects in the incoming draft class already shares a strong relationship with their head coach, Matt Rhule. How, you might ask?
Pickett was once a Temple commit when coach Rhule was still at the college program. While he never actually coached the New Jersey native, Pickett remembers when Rhule visited him during his senior year in high school, and the coach seems to have left an impression on the young signal-caller.
“He’s a great person. It comes down to people first in this business,” Pickett said. “Talking to all the players that he’s coached when I was thinking about committing, that’s really all it’s about. How great of a guy he is and how hard they play for him.”
Kenny Pickett on relationship with Matt Rhule
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Carolina Panthers have also shown interest in Kenny Pickett
Not only has Kenny Pickett publicly shown a fondness for the Panthers’ head coach, but the organization has also tried to do some more homework on the draft prospect during the Senior Bowl. Pickett spoke with the team during the week and the QB said he expects to see them again at some point, possibly during the NFL Scouting Combine.
For what it’s worth, the Panthers have the sixth selection in April’s draft. We’ll see if quarterback is still their top priority by the time they’re on the clock.
