4 draft gambles the Carolina Panthers could make in 2023
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could trade up to No. 1 overall
General manager Scott Fitterer has made no secret of his desire to draft and develop a new quarterback. This provides the Carolina Panthers with a stable, long-term solution that can hopefully meet expectations and take the franchise forward.
Standing pat at No. 9 overall means they’ll miss out on the consensus top two or perhaps even top three prospects. So examining options to move up in pursuit of securing their preferred prospect is a genuine possibility all things considered.
After so much personnel mismanagement under center when Matt Rhule had the final say, it would be a catastrophe if the Panthers didn’t get their next move correct under a different regime. So the stakes could not be much higher.
The only way Carolina can guarantee their top target is by striking a deal with the Chicago Bears at No. 1 overall. This will cost multiple first-rounders over the next few years and perhaps one of the team’s second-round selections in 2023 for good measure.
It’s a huge risk, there’s no getting away from that. But if the Panthers are 100 percent convinced that someone like C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young can take them from also-rans into contenders, it’s a small price to pay.
Whether it’s something Fitterer and his staff can pull off is another matter entirely.