Could the Carolina Panthers go for some home run moves in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
The 2022 NFL season has officially ended, but there is little downtime thanks to the offseason circus. The NFL Scouting Combine is only a little more than a week away, so the keen eyes of coaches, general managers, and scouts around the league will be watching young prospects try to prove themselves.
In particular, the Carolina Panthers are a team to watch out for when draft night rolls around. Scott Fitterer has a lot of chess pieces to work with if he so desires, and making daring moves to push the team into long-term contention should be considered.
The well-known quarterback issue for the Panthers may finally be at its merciful end by the closure of the draft. And there are a handful of quarterback prospects that Carolina can choose from if Fitterer trades up.
Using the mock draft simulator devised by Pro Football Focus, we took a look at which way Carolina might go with their draft selections. This starts with a bold move to kick things off.
Round No. 1 (Trade)
Carolina Panthers trade up to No. 1 overall
The price to move up to No. 1 overall in the draft is steep. But the Carolina Panthers have the choice of any quarterback prospects on the board in this scenario.
While the Chicago Bears may not trade out and decide to move Justin Fields instead, next year’s class is as good or better than the 2023 group. Therefore, the NFC North outfit may as well give the signal-caller one more season, and they get good draft capital for next year along with an early second-rounder.
Now that Carolina has made the all-in move, who do they select with it?
Carolina Panthers draft Bryce Young
- Quarterback | Alabama Crimson Tide
The Carolina Panthers go all in on Bryce Young to start this mock draft. The quarterback position is by far the most crucial to fill on any football team and despite Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, and C.J. Stroud all being good prospects with potential, none of them are as good as the former Alabama star at this stage of their careers.
He may not have won a national championship in his two seasons as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide, but Young’s performances were a marvel to the eyes of everyone who watched him.
Young won the Heisman Trophy and led Alabama to a national championship appearance in his first year as a starter in 2021. Despite missing a couple of games in 2022, he still finished sixth in the Heisman voting.
The prospect’s biggest strengths are escapability, decision-making, and the ability to make off-time passes from inside and outside the pocket. Young has pinpoint accuracy for a college quarterback, and that will ease his transition to the NFL.
His overall playmaking ability is not quite at this level, but it is comparable to the likes of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, who are both MVP-level quarterbacks.
A couple of areas of concern are Young’s height and the fact that he will hold onto the ball for too long. But despite being overly patient, NFL coaching can iron out that weakness in his game.
Regardless of his 6-foot frame, other quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson at a similar height have had great success. With Frank Reich coaching him in his quarterback-friendly offense and playing with a playmaker like D.J Moore, Young has the potential to turn into a top-five NFL quarterback within a few seasons.
Round No. 2 (Trade)
Carolina Panthers trade up in Round No. 2
For the next pick in the mock draft, the Panthers again trade up. This time, to take a chance on a playmaker for their rookie quarterback.
Carolina Panthers draft Jahmyr Gibbs
- Running Back | Alabama Crimson Tide
In this mock draft, Jahmyr Gibbs slips out of the top 40 and into the grateful arms of the Carolina Panthers. Those in power would likely have to take the running back earlier come April, but fortune favored the franchise in this scenario.
Selecting a running back early may not make sense on the surface. But with D’Onta Foreman needing a new contract, Carolina should draft one to supplement the backfield depth, and no other prospect outside of Bijan Robinson has the sort of versatility Gibbs brings to the table.
The Alabama product produced 926 rushing yards and 444 receiving yards last year. He was a regular check-down option for Bryce Young in 2022, so pairing the two in Carolina could build on this flourishing partnership.
Gibbs’ talent out of the backfield as a receiver is something the Panthers are sorely missing after trading Christian McCaffrey. Despite Chuba Hubbard and Foreman being good downhill runners, neither of them is the threat that he is.
The prospect boasts elite footwork and elusiveness. Combine that with his speed and vision, and you have a playmaker that can be used in many different ways.
He has a lot of the traits Alvin Kamara had when he entered the league. Not that he will be as good, but Gibbs will provide a similar impact on the offense with a smooth transition.
Round No. 4 (Trade)
Carolina Panthers trade down in Round No. 4
Trading down to pick No. 125 still allows Carolina to select another offensive weapon. One that can become a star player.
Carolina Panthers draft Marvin Mims Jr.
- Wide Receiver | Oklahoma Sooners
D.J Moore will continue to be the catalyst at wide receiver and the emergence of Terrace Marshall Jr. in 2022 was a welcome surprise. But NFL offenses run three wide receivers most plays, and the Carolina Panthers pick up an intriguing option in the mid-rounds.
Marvin Mims Jr. declared early for the draft. And despite having a limited route tree and unpolished skills as a receiver, the 20-year-old has one of the higher ceilings of any player in this draft class.
He produced 54 catches, 1,083 receiving yards, and six touchdowns during his junior year at Oklahoma. This is in addition to the 69 catches, 1,315 yards, and 14 scores he put up during his first two years in college.
Mims has very good body control in the air, probably the best out of all the receiver prospects in this class. Combine that with his speed and down-field route running, and you have a deep threat that can push defenders back to open up space underneath.
He also brings value as a returner. Something that Frank Reich and his special teams coaches led by Chris Tabor can use on the Panthers.
Selecting Mims also allows Moore to get more opportunities in the slot. That gives offensive coordinator Thomas Brown several ways to get his best weapon the ball.
Mims brings value to the offense right away. If the exceptional coaches in Carolina can develop his game to its full potential, the Oklahoma wide receiver will be one of the steals of the draft.
Carolina Panthers draft Owen Pappoe
- Linebacker | Auburn Tigers
With the next pick of the mock draft, the Carolina Panthers fill the void in their linebacker depth similar to Brandon Smith last year. That player is Owen Pappoe, who has elite speed and range for the position.
Pappoe was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in his senior season at Auburn. He contributed 91 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception, which is solid production ahead of his NFL quest.
The prospect still has some work to do in the weight room and on the practice field to scrape off blocks better. But Pappoe boasts the sort of athletic ability and instincts that will allow him to be a productive linebacker in coverage and going downhill against the run.
A year or two developing under Shaq Thompson – providing the veteran second-level defender doesn’t become a cap casualty – and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will help Pappoe become an all-around NFL linebacker. So this is a tremendous spot for the player to end up.
Pappoe has the physical attributes to be an impactful player when given the opportunity. He and Smith being on the roster provide two options to replace Thompson when his time in Carolina ends.
Carolina Panthers draft Riley Moss
- Cornerback | Iowa Hawkeyes
Injuries to both starting cornerbacks were costly to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. C.J. Henderson and Keith Taylor Jr. were sometimes solid in relief of Donte Jackson and Jaycee Horn, but multiple mistakes in important games is a sign to take a sturdy cornerback that can fit into the depth chart.
That cornerback is Riley Moss. The Iowa product completed his five-year college career with 11 interceptions and 26 passes defended, as well as two forced fumbles in his last campaign as a Hawkeye.
Moss will likely never be an elite player because of a lack of athleticism and fluidity. But he brings value with his ability to read and react in zone coverage – something the Panthers might need based on how Ejiro Evero ran his defense on the Denver Broncos.
The defensive back made numerous plays jumping routes and covering receivers one-on-one. Moss is also a willing tackler and is more than willing to get his hands dirty against plays on the outside.
His lack of range and top-end speed hold him back from being a great prospect. However, what Moss brings as a depth cornerback on a zone-focused defense is a good value at this stage of the draft for a team that needs to add another option.
Carolina Panthers draft Jose Ramirez
- Defensive End | Eastern Michigan Eagles
Most of this mock draft has been about taking chances on players with upside. Jose Ramirez’s potential at pick No. 150 is another big swing.
Selecting an edge rusher at some point in the draft is something Scott Fitterer needs to consider. Ramirez is a quick defensive end with a high motor and despite needing development before becoming a starter, he could become an impactful pass-rusher in the NFL.
He led the Eastern Michigan defense with 12 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in his senior season. Ramirez was awarded the MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 as a result.
Ramirez has to develop against the run and get stronger, but his pass-rushing ability allowed him to take over games single-handily. He oozes athleticism, and his defensive production last time around cannot be ignored.
Drafting a player who filled the stat sheet like Ramirez did this late in the draft is a smart move. Especially in an area of the roster that needs depth behind Brian Burns.
Ramirez would slot in as a rotational pass-rusher behind Burns in Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 defense. And he has the potential to become a starter within a couple of seasons.
Carolina Panthers draft Josh Whyle
- Tight End | Cincinnati Bearcats
Tight End is an area of need for the Carolina Panthers. While free agent options at the position will be available, the front office can opt to go for a rookie on a cheaper contract with Josh Whyle.
Whyle shined on Cincinnati’s offense throughout his college career. The prospect’s calling card is his run-after-the-catch ability and being a great red zone target.
He has quick footwork and fluid movement for a man his size. Those two attributes also make Whyle a solid vertical and intermediate route runner.
All of this produced plenty of touchdowns for the Bearcats. Whyle finished his four-year college career with 15 receiving scores despite Cincinnati’s spread offense predicated on their wide receivers.
Whyle lacks one-on-one catch ability and is too lean to be a No. 1 tight end right away. But he has the potential to become a weapon you can give the ball to quickly and let them get yards after the catch, similar to Dallas Goedert.
At pick No. 154, Carolina cannot pass up on that upside. Although the potential for Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas to make improvements under Frank Reich cannot be dismissed entirely.
Carolina Panthers draft Warren McClendon
- Offensive Line | Georgia Bulldogs
With the last pick, the Carolina Panthers go with offensive tackle Warren McClendon from Georgia. At pick No. 200, the prospect brings value as a depth piece who can develop at his own pace behind Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu.
The Bulldogs won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Even though several players made a bigger impact on those teams, McClendon has a championship pedigree under his belt.
McClendon is very unpolished as he needs coaching to improve footwork and sticking to blocks. But when he does get his hands on a defender, the lineman does a solid job opening running lanes and protecting the quarterback.
He is physical downfield as a run blocker. This is something the Panthers will need despite some additional creativity on offense under Frank Reich and Thomas Brown.
This mock draft, filled with picks at skill positions or with high athletic ability, ends with a selection of an offensive lineman who will provide depth in an area that will need it once Cameron Erving’s contract expires this spring. In a sport so physically grueling, every team needs multiple options on the offensive line depth chart.