4 high-upside quarterbacks the Panthers could draft in 2023

Carolina Panthers could draft Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson is not just a development project.

He’s the ultimate development project.

Richardson’s gradual progression in 2022 could see him become a top 15 selection after he stars at assessment events such as the NFL Scouting Combine. But anyone expecting the second coming of Cam Newton is kidding themselves, at least initially.

There is a supreme rawness to Richardson’s game which means his elite traits need to be managed with extreme care. At times he looks like an absolute world-beater despite the lack of talent at Florida, but his decision-making and processing let him down on occasions.

The dual-threat ability to blow away any defense and change the course of a game is rare. Teams will always bet on skills like this pretty high up the pecking order, but Richardson needs a stable organization with proven coaches capable of nurturing this talent into a quarterback that can take the NFL by storm.

That’s why it’s so important for the Carolina Panthers to get their next head coach and the staff working under him right. Steve Wilks has laid a strong claim, but his defensive background indicates some fresh ideas on offense are almost guaranteed if team owner David Tepper removes the interim tag.

Richardson’s ceiling could literally be anything. That’s how gifted he is.

But rushing him too soon into any starting lineup could come with grave ramifications.