Coaching hires put the Panthers in position to get their rookie QB

Some recent impressive coaching staff hires make the Carolina Panthers the best place imaginable for a rookie quarterback to develop in 2023.

Frank Reich‘s appointment might have come with some disappointment given the esteem in which Steve Wilks was held by players and fans. But the Carolina Panthers are already reaping significant rewards after choosing an experienced, offensive-minded head coach for the first time in franchise history.

One of the first big statements made by Reich upon taking the job was his desire to form the best coaching staff around. Something that team owner David Tepper was also approving of and the owner had the financial muscle to achieve this objective.

So far, so good.

The Panthers have left no stone unturned in their pursuit of finding the correct figures to take an already talented roster to the next level. While some key positions remain vacant, one cannot be anything other than impressed by the way Reich and Tepper have gone about their business in the weeks following his arrival.

Carolina Panthers are the perfect place for any rookie quarterback

Carolina’s staff is loaded with NFL experience, multiple figures who have been or could be head coaches, and the Panthers also managed to retain the services of James Campen and Chris Tabor after their outstanding contributions in 2022.

Providing they get their offensive coordinator right, which might be Thomas Brown from the Sean McVay coaching tree, everything is in place. Something that makes Carolina an extremely attractive destination for any rookie signal-caller via the 2023 NFL Draft.

Having figures like Reich and Jim Caldwell to lean on during their initial transition is going to do wonders. Although quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is new to the coaching side of things, he’s a 19-year veteran that knows exactly what it takes to succeed.

If their pick isn’t good enough, so be it. But whether it’s Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis, there would be no excuses whatsoever given the caliber of coaches they’d be working alongside.

The foundations have been laid. Now is the time for Carolina to strike with conviction and find a long-term option at football’s most critical position.

This also fits what general manager Scott Fitterer wants as part of his strategy. The front office figure is in charge of personnel for the first time since joining the franchise, which could mean the Panthers build around a rookie contract and won’t hesitate to jump up the pecking order if they are 100 percent convinced it’s the right thing to do.

"“I think you’ve got to have conviction. If there’s a guy in this class that you like, you got to go up and go get him. We’re in a position now where we have a defense, we have an offensive line. We built around this for this opportunity. So if you have conviction, go get him. If not, you don’t want to force it. You don’t want to take a player and pass on a really good player, that might set you back. But you can’t be afraid to take a shot if you believe that’s the guy.”"

It’s an exciting time for fans after so much inept mismanagement during the Matt Rhule years. There is now a clear, concise coaching structure capable of bringing out the best in players old and new, which is a refreshing change of pace from anything during Tepper’s time as an owner so far.

Make no mistake, whichever quarterback prospect ends up in Carolina should consider themselves fortunate. This is the perfect spot to maximize their potential and there is more than enough talent on the roster to ensure they hit the ground running.

Just who that’s going to be is the biggest remaining question. However, if the Panthers want to trade up to get themselves in a better position to strike, then something could be confirmed sooner rather than later.