Darnold not worried about Panthers' QB hunt: 'I'm a good quarterback'

It's no secret that the Carolina Panthers are looking for a new quarterback.

Though Sam Darnold said Carolina's search for a new passer is "a little shot to the ego," he's still confident in himself ahead of his second season with the team, according to David Newton of ESPN.

"Whatever happens, happens. Because at the end of the day, it's out of my control, and I know that," Darnold said on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast. "I have enough security in myself where I can say, 'I know I'm a good quarterback. I know I can be a good quarterback in this league. I've proved it.'

"And I know there's a team, if something happens, that would want me."

In his first season with the Panthers last year, Darnold completed just 59.6% of his passes while tossing only nine touchdowns to 13 interceptions through 12 appearances. The 24-year-old also battled a shoulder injury that sidelined him for multiple games.

Carolina tried to acquire Deshaun Watson this offseason before the Cleveland Browns landed him in a trade that sent three first-round picks to the Houston Texans.

The Panthers, who own the sixth overall pick, have also been linked to the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft. Carolina is set to meet with several of them next week, including Liberty's Malik Willis, Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, and Ole Miss' Matt Corral, reports Albert Breer of The MMQB.

Though Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer recently said he isn't sold on drafting a quarterback at No. 6, he's open to taking a shot at it.

"At the end of the day, somebody has got to answer for it," Darnold said on whether Carolina will select a quarterback this year. "Whoever it is. The GM. The coach. If something happens like that, we'll see what they have to say, and that's about it."

The Panthers, who acquired Darnold last year in a trade with the New York Jets, also started P.J. Walker and Cam Newton in 2021 en route to finishing 5-12. Carolina brought Walker back for the 2022 campaign but has yet to re-sign Newton.