Quarterback Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers would be

Though previous head coach Matt Rhule stated that quarterback Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers would be playing in the NFC South if he had his way, the Carolina Panthers now hope that Bryce Young eventually matures into the face of the organization.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Rhule stated that he made every effort, but in vain, to get Purdy appointed to the Carolina draft board in 2022.

“When I was in the draft room in Carolina, I brought his name up,” Rhule recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, guys, he should be on the draft board’ — got vetoed on that one.”

Strangely enough, Rhule’s last game as the Panthers’ coach that autumn took place across the field from both of them. 49ers defeated Carolina 37–15, basicallyterminating Rhule’s tenure. Six weeks remained until Purdy’s ascent from obscurity began, therefore he didn’t play that day.

Under Rhule’s direction, the Panthers weren’t exactly hoarding talent, revisionist history or not. Under Rhule’s direction, Carolina selected 24 players over the course of three drafts. Nine of them are either not in the NFL anymore or have not yet played a down there. There are just 11 players on the Panthers’ active roster right now, and Derrick Brown, a defensive tackle selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, is the only one who has been selected to the Pro Bowl.

Rhule was selected by the Panthers from Baylor in 2020, and he spent portions of three seasons with the team, going just 11-27, before being let go before Week 6 of 2022. After a dull NFL career, Rhule eventually made his way back to college and was recruited by Nebraska ashead coach of the program before to the 2023 season.