8 early 2023 Senior Bowl week standouts for the Panthers radar
By Dean Jones
Which college prospects have emerged as early standouts for the Carolina Panthers to monitor during the all-important 2023 Senior Bowl week?
Frank Reich’s introductory press conference as Carolina Panthers head coach took center stage this week. But influential figures within the organization are also casting their eye on some intriguing college prospects set to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
This week’s Senior Bowl is one of the most prominent assessment dates on the pre-draft calendar. It’s a chance for hopefuls to evaluate and conduct interviews, giving teams a stronger indication of what they could bring to an NFL franchise.
The Panthers have lots of high-end draft capital after trading Christian McCaffery to the San Francisco 49ers. If they hit on the majority and also get themselves a franchise quarterback, there could be a chance for immediate contention with Reich leading the charge.
With that in mind, here are five early standouts from Senior Bowl practice week that should be on Carolina’s draft radar.
Standout No. 1
Carolina Panthers should monitor John Michael Schmitz
- Center | Minnesota Golden Gophers
If the Carolina Panthers cannot agree to an extension with Bradley Bozeman, finding a new center will be among their top priorities. Based on John Michael Schwartz’s initial performance levels during Senior Bowl week, he could be the best of the bunch.
In an ideal world, Bozeman can return and continue his fine work on and off the field in Carolina. If not, then Schwartz looks like someone with Day 1 starting potential as a top-100 selection.