A Big Preseason Looms for Matt Corral

Matt Corral thought he would have a chance to be the future quarterback of the Carolina Panthers a year ago when the team traded up for him in the third round of the draft. 

The front office saw potential in him but knew that he wouldn't be ready to start right away or truly push Sam Darnold in camp, which led to the trade of Baker Mayfield. Unfortunately, Corral suffered a Lisfranc injury in a preseason game against the Patriots, bringing his rookie season to a close before it ever had a chance to get off the ground.

This year, he'll use this preseason as an opportunity to increase his value on the team and potentially even around the league. 

Bryce Young will get some playing time and veteran Andy Dalton will get his fair share of in-game reps too, but head coach Frank Reich already hinted at the likelihood of Corral getting the majority of snaps in preseason play.

How Corral performs in the preseason could ultimately determine his future. Do the Panthers like him enough to groom him into being the future backup to Young? Or does another team like what they see on tape and throw a trade offer to Carolina?

"Me personally, if it was up to me, I don't want to get traded," Corral said in the spring. "I love the people here. I love the people that I'm around. I want to play for Coach Reich. I really like the coaches that we have around us."

Despite how difficult the past year has been in having to deal with the injury, coaching change, the draft, and so on, Corral remains in good spirits.

"It was a rough year - a long one at that. But you got to have perspective and it's all about controlling what you can control. And honestly, that's what's made me happy. Getting another opportunity to be here and play for the Carolina Panthers -- I'm blessed. I'm in it for the long haul. When that opportunity comes, I'll be ready."

"His perspective is what it needs to be," said head coach Frank Reich. "My only two cents would be, you gotta play the long game. It's a long season. And it's a long career. Just do the next right thing. Get better every day. Work hard out at practice. Learn this offense. Execute. Be a good teammate. Play in this league a long time and be ready when your opportunity comes and make the most of it.