How could the Carolina Panthers rank the top-five quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft ahead of a potential trade-up to get their prospect of choice?
The quarterback dominos have begun falling around the NFL. One directly impacts the Carolina Panthers after Derek Carr opted to join the New Orleans Saints on a three-year deal worth a reported $100 million guaranteed.
While the Panthers showed an interest in Carr, it was never realistic considering how tight money is right now. Their primary objective should be securing one of the top quarterbacks emerging from the college level in 2023.
Speculation surrounding an aggressive trade-up continues to gather pace. But there needs to be a general consensus among those in power before making such a monumental sacrifice.
Without looking too far ahead, we ranked the top-five signal-callers in the 2023 NFL Draft based on talent, potential, film, and scheme fit.
Quarterback No. 5
Carolina Panthers could draft Hendon Hooker
Hendon Hooker has been the afterthought throughout this draft evaluation process. This is thanks in no small part to the player’s injury complication and the fact he’s a little older than the average quarterback prospect.
Hooker is likely to be a Day 2 pick all things considered. The Carolina Panthers have an immediate need for assistance, so the chances of the one-time Tennessee star being the guy appear remote at this juncture.
Carolina Panthers could draft Will Levis
There aren’t many more polarizing prospects entering the NFL this year. Will Levis has the intangibles, but many see a long road ahead for the quarterback before he’s ready to assume command under center at the next level.
Levis has an absolute cannon for an arm and can make any throw with ease. If that was all it took to succeed, he’d be the No. 1 overall selection this year.
However, that’s not the case. There are some significant flaws in Levis’ game that need to be rectified – and this isn’t going to happen overnight.
The former Kentucky stud doesn’t process things quickly enough. Levis also has trouble recognizing pressure and makes the wrong decisions frequently when under any sort of duress.
This makes it imperative that Levis lands in the right fit with coaches who can nurture his obvious potential. The Carolina Panthers fit the mold in no uncertain terms after Frank Reich and David Tepper put together arguably the NFL’s most accomplished staff from top to bottom.
NFL teams don’t draft players for what they’ve produced in college. It’s what they could become as professionals that counts.
The Panthers reportedly like Levis. But whether trading substantial draft capital to attain his services is a completely different question.
Carolina Panthers could draft Anthony Richardson
The term feast or famine prospect is widely used every year.
Anthony Richardson is the very definition of this.
To nobody’s surprise, Richardson took the NFL Scouting Combine by storm. His record-breaking numbers during testing were matched by some impressive throws – something that’s led many to speculate just where he’ll be drafted next month.
Richardson is an electrifying dual-threat presence that can be a franchise quarterback if given enough time to enhance his craft. There is a chance it could go wrong, but one could also argue that if any staff cannot develop someone with the Florida product’s elite athletic traits, they don’t deserve to be coaching in the NFL.
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the Carolina Panthers think highly of Richardson – just not enough to draft him as high as he’ll probably go now. If he ends up falling, then it’s a different story.
There was arguably no prospect that helped themselves more in Indianapolis than Richardson. He also has the highest upside of any signal-caller emerging from the college ranks in 2023.
Boom or bust. A swing for the fences.
What the Panthers must determine is whether the juice is worth the squeeze.
Carolina Panthers could draft Bryce Young
In all honesty, the Carolina Panthers couldn’t go wrong with either of the top-two prospects on this list. The trickiest part is moving up from No. 9 overall high enough to secure their services.
Bryce Young has magic that just cannot be taught. He is a magician under center who’s set college football alight over the last two years and looks set to be the latest Alabama signal-caller to thrive at the next level.
The obvious concerns surrounding Young center on his height and weight. He is slight in build – which is a concern from a durability standpoint – but it hasn’t bothered him so far and the player has already signaled his intent to bulk up before going against grown men who won’t hesitate to put him out of commission.
Young’s processing, ability to create something out of nothing and arm strength is right where it needs to be. He is also someone that players naturally gravitate towards, which should smooth his transition from college to the pros and into a locker room leader.
There’s little chance Young makes it out of the top two selections. If nobody trades up with the Chicago Bears, the Houston Texans will jump at the chance to make him their franchise player.
Carolina has a big decision to make. And they need to do it quickly.
Carolina Panthers could draft C.J. Stroud
Anyone that’s read our mock drafts and other draft-related stories know how high I am on C.J. Stroud. This looks like a tailor-made fit for the Carolina Panthers and one they should work hard to attain in pursuit of finally laying the foundations for a successful future.
Stroud has stereotypical size, can make NFL-caliber throws comfortably, and relies on exceptional accuracy to move the chains. The Ohio State product is also more mobile than people give him credit for – something he put on full display during a sensational performance in the college football playoff against Georgia.
The prospect put on a throwing clinic at the NFL Scouting Combine to further enhance his stock. Stroud looks like someone that could immediately thrive within Frank Reich’s system and the coaches are in place to ensure he hits the ground running.
There’s no doubt Stroud believes he’s the best quarterback in this draft class. At the end of the day, he might be right.
Carolina has a choice to make. Do they sit on their hands and wait to see who might be around or should they strike with conviction to guarantee their prospect of choice?
Considering how things have unfolded in recent years – particularly during the Matt Rhule era – the decision is a simple one to make. And there will never be a better time to make this happen.