Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2023 NFL Draft selections heading into the important assessment process?
While all the talk remains on who the next head coach will be, those within the Carolina Panthers are frantically putting together profiles, assessments, and everything in between regarding potential recruits from the college ranks. And with the Carolina Panthers having an abundance of top-end selections following the Christian McCaffrey trade, it could shape the short and long-term future of the franchise.
The new head coach, whoever that might be, will obviously have a say. But after team owner David Tepper gave Matt Rhule absolute power, it might be worth a more collective approach to preserve the respectability gained under Steve Wilks in 2022.
With events such as the 2023 Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine on the immediate horizon, it’s vital Carolina secures their preferred choice to assist in the thought process. Whether that’s Wilks or someone else is another matter entirely.
Opportunity knocks for the Panthers this offseason. If they get some tough choices right, then gaining NFC South supremacy next season is a real possibility when one considers the overall situation across the division moving forward.
Using the NFL mock draft database simulator, we took a look at which way Carolina might go with their 2023 selections in our latest seven-round mock draft.
Carolina Panthers select Bryce Young
- Quarterback | Alabama Crimson Tide
We get it, the chances of Bryce Young making it this far down the pecking order are remote. But the simulator provided the Carolina Panthers with an opportunity they’d be foolish to pass up.
Young comes into the 2023 NFL Draft with the best credentials of any quarterback prospect. The Heisman Trophy winner has franchise signal-caller written all over him, boasting the poise, accuracy, and playmaking ability that should transition well to a professional environment.
One thing that’s working against Young is his size. This will be a big talking point throughout the evaluation process and might end up hurting his stock slightly when push comes to shove.
This isn’t the biggest concern given the current trend of smaller quarterbacks thriving at the next level. However, one only has to look at the recent injury to Kyler Murray as an example of how things can unravel quickly.
If Young, C.J. Stroud, or even Will Levis make it out of the top five, then the Panthers might want to explore a trade-up to finally secure a long-term plan under center. Something that was sorely lacking during the Matt Rhule era.
Looking at the college production, Young is the best signal-caller in this class. But teams don’t usually select prospects based on what they’ve done, it’s more on what they could be.
Young has everything. And if the Panthers get the chance to bring him on board, they shouldn’t hesitate.
Carolina Panthers select Noah Sewell
- Linebacker | Oregon Ducks
Finding a worthy successor to the great Luke Kuechly has been difficult for the Carolina Panthers since the perennial All-Pro hung up his cleats after the 2019 campaign. Things did get better when Shaq Thompson moved to the second-level interior under Steve Wilks, but the veteran could be a salary-cap casualty based on the savings involved with his early departure.
Damien Wilson and Cory Littleton are unlikely to be around, either. This means finding adequate reinforcements to the linebacking room could be among the team’s top priorities in free agency or the 2023 NFL Draft.
Addressing this via the college ranks seems the cheapest and best option for sustainable success. If the Panthers opt for this route, then Noah Sewell is a player that can come in and make an immediate impression.
Sewell has the strength, explosiveness, and instincts to be a Day 1 starter with a high upside. The former Oregon standout sheds blocks with ease and possesses a relentless motor that enables sideline-to-sideline defense on all three downs.
Once Sewell learns to be more disciplined and finishes off plays with additional conviction, someone is going to have a real player on their hands. The brother of Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell could go even higher than this, but he’s a prospect of note in a position of need for Carolina.
Carolina Panthers select Derick Hall
- Defensive End/Outside Linebacker | Auburn Tigers
Allowing Haason Reddick to leave in free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles was one of the biggest fumbles of the Matt Rhule era. This negated any consistent pass-rush opposite Brian Burns after Yetur Gross-Matos failed to capitalize on his starting chance en route to just 2.5 sacks in 2022.
Marquis Haynes is a solid rotational piece and hopes remain relatively high where Amare Barno is concerned after flashing as a rookie. However, it would be a huge error if the Carolina Panthers didn’t acquire one or two new faces to bolster this key positional group.
Again, signing productive defensive ends in free agency isn’t cheap. So the Panthers would be wise to explore the college ranks for a potential difference-maker to pair with Burns long term.
There is a lot to like about the credentials Derick Hall brings to the table. The former teammate of Carolina’s defensive tackle Derrick Brown is a forceful presence against the run, setting the edge with frequency and conviction – traits that the Panthers lacked in key moments during the previous campaign.
With 41 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 11.5 tackles for loss over his final season in college, Hall has momentum on his side. The player also has an NFL-ready physique and boasts a violent work ethic on the defensive front that’s hard not to love.
Carolina Panthers select Mike Morris
- Defensive Line | Michigan Wolverines
Derrick Brown enjoyed a phenomenal season in 2022. Matt Ioannidis was a solid complimentary piece, but whether he’s done enough for another deal before free agency remains to be seen.
Regardless of whether Ioannidis returns or not, the Carolina Panthers must improve the depth of their defensive line interior. That’s the only way to preserve consistency in the event disaster strikes on the injury front.
Mike Morris has the versatility and production that can help. Expecting the Michigan product to start right away might be a stretch, but there’s nothing to suggest he cannot make his presence felt anywhere on the defensive line if given prominent early reps.
While Morris switched to the edge with the Wolverines more often than not last season, his experience on the interior is something that could also assist the Panthers in this scenario. His hand placement is first class and matched by an aggressive instinct that allows him to enter opposing backfields almost at will.
The former three-star recruit out of high school needs to improve balance and initial power coming off the snap. If Morris can accomplish this in the coming months, then a key rotational spot in Carolina or elsewhere won’t be far behind.
Carolina Panthers select Kyu Blu Kelly
- Cornerback | Stanford Cardinals
Considering the cornerback position was expected to be among the strongest positional groups in 2022, it ended up being a disappointment overall. Jaycee Horn’s emergence into a true shutdown presence is cause for encouragement, but Donte Jackson’s ongoing injury problems coupled with C.J. Henderson and Keith Taylor Jr.’s inconsistency means more might be needed next time around.
Perhaps adding a proven veteran in free agency would be worth its weight in gold. If the Panthers decide to allocate their precious funds elsewhere, then picking up an athletic cornerback with promise during the draft is another option.
Kyu Blu Kelly is an intriguing prospect, to put it mildly. The defensive back’s tackling and high energy came across in bundles during his time at Stanford, with his technical prowess in press coverage something that NFL teams covet heavily in the modern-day world where passing the football is king.
Kelly has the speed to go downfield with opposing wide receivers and possesses the ball skills to make big plays when opportunities arise. There is work to do in terms of zone recognition, footwork, and discipline, but this is a player that could immediately slot onto a rotation providing his transition to the pros goes off without a hitch.
Carolina should examine Kelly closely throughout their upcoming evaluations. And this might be a steal at this stage of the draft.
Carolina Panthers select Jarrett Patterson
- Offensive Line | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
One of the biggest positives for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 was their offensive line. This group became rejuvenated under coach James Campen, providing reliability and stability in equal measure to transform the team’s fortunes in such a pivotal area.
If the Panthers can work out an extension with center Bradley Bozeman, then this continuity can help any new signal-caller coming into the fold next season. However, two concerning injuries to Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen late in the campaign highlighted the need to improve depth across the board.
This is usually done via the college ranks rather than free agency considering the cost. Once some other key needs are filled, this is something those in power will likely address.
Jarrett Patterson is a name for the shortlist. The Notre Dame product has the versatility to play anywhere along the offensive line interior given his frame and agility, but he specializes in the center position thanks to his impressive football IQ and pre-snap communication.
Patterson is a solid pass blocker that has the functional strength needed to open up running lanes. His technique needs some refinement – especially making the move up against imposing NFL defensive linemen – but having Campen around to guide the rookie will help enormously.
Another reason why it’s imperative any new coach retains the offensive line coach at all costs. After all, continuity is key when it comes to consistent protection.
Carolina Panthers select Xavier Hutchinson
- Wide Receiver | Iowa State Cyclones
Things didn’t go quite according to plan for the wide receivers in 2022. However, this wasn’t all their own doing after yet another campaign of quarterback turmoil held the Carolina Panthers back.
Hopefully, this is a problem that finally gets solved this off-season. But after trading Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals, the Panthers need another weapon capable of doing damage when his number’s called.
D.J. Moore and Terrace Marshall Jr. should both improve once Carolina finds a consistent signal-caller. The same might apply to Shi Smith and Laviska Shenault Jr., who flashed briefly without demonstrating enough to warrant a guaranteed starting role next season.
If Xavier Henderson is still on the board at this stage, it’s a tempting proposition. The Iowa State product saved the best for last in 2022, gaining 107 receptions for 1,171 receiving yards and six touchdowns from just 12 games, so the intrigue is there for all to see.
Hutchinson’s size and length make him a dangerous force over short to intermediate routes. The player also comes with top-end speed to blow opposing cornerbacks away when early separation is accomplished.
Once the receiver figures out how best to maximize his production against zone coverages, he could thrive at the next level. And Hutchinson offers the Panthers something they don’t currently have in their wideout room.