Failed Panthers QB Signs With Desperate NFC Foe

One of Carolina's NFC rivals is not having the best offseason. The Minnesota Vikings are getting hit with one unfortunate news after another this summer, with the latest being their prized rookie J.J. McCarthy suffering a season-ending injury last week.

Even before the injury, the Vikings had one of the more questionable quarterback depths in the league. They were expected to finish last in the division and miss the postseason. Things took a bleak turn after McCarthy's injury and got even worse when they signed his replacement.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings are signing failed Panthers QB Matt Corral after placing McCarthy on injured reserve list.

NFL News: Vikings Sign QB Matt Corral

This is a surprising signing on multiple levels. Minnesota's depth chart currently consists of Nick Mullens, Sam Darnold, and Jaren Hall. One would have expected them to trade for an established veteran for a season or bring in a more experienced backup type. Instead, they are opting for Matt Corral, who has been a major draft bust ever since he was a third-round pick back in 2022.

After a successful Ole Miss career where he was the starter for his final two seasons there, Corral suffered an unfortunate Lisfranc injury in the offseason, missing his entire rookie season. In the 2023 offseason, he was waived by the Panthers before he could make an appearance with the team.

He wasn't able to stick with a team in the NFL after that and spent the season with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. He started for three games there and went undefeated, carrying the team to the postseason. This helped re-establish his reputation and get him back into the league.

Now, Corral has an opportunity to crack the 53-man roster in Minnesota but has an uphill battle. At age 25, he can still be heard from.

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