Who were the big losers from the Carolina Panthers bombshell trade to secure the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Carolina Panthers made their intentions clear. More importantly, they left nothing to chance by trading up to No. 1 overall and officially seizing control of the 2023 NFL Draft.
This was widely expected but surprising nonetheless. Carolina paid a hefty sum to surge from No. 9 overall, but the reward could be substantial if they finally get their franchise quarterback after so long without stable production under center.
Who won this particular trade won’t be determined for a long time yet. However, it finally gives general manager Scott Fitterer an opportunity to build around a rookie deal and hopefully return Carolina into legitimate contention along the way.
Not everyone stands to benefit, obviously. With this in mind, here are three big losers from the Panthers’ trade to No. 1 overall.
Loser No. 1
D.J. Moore – Former Carolina Panthers WR
This might not be the biggest loser. But the fact D.J. Moore won’t get to see in this exciting new era after giving so much to the Carolina Panthers is a real shame.
The wide receiver did a lot with very little throughout his time with the franchise. Moore will thrive on the Chicago Bears – there’s absolutely no doubt about that – but this was obviously the cost of doing business when push came to shove.
Sam Darnold – Former Carolina Panthers QB
After enjoying a mini-career renaissance when installed into the starting lineup last season, Sam Darnold‘s prospects look better than ever before. However, faltering when the Carolina Panthers needed him most was probably the final straw for a franchise that risked bringing him in via trade from the New York Jets.
Darnold was probably hoping for one more go-around with an improved coaching staff. He might get that on a short-term deal depending on what transpires in free agency, but the Panthers made their move to No. 1 overall, leaving his long-term aspirations in tatters.
This is just business. Darnold might have progressed after being well-insulated behind a stout offensive line and power running attack in 2022, but his overall career production indicates he’ll never be able to reach the heights expected of a No. 3 overall selection.
What the future holds for Darnold is unclear. As stated previously, the Panthers could offer him a team-friendly deal for 2023, but they didn’t make this move for a rookie quarterback to sit on the sidelines, so the one-time USC stud might opt to take his chances elsewhere for the promise of more involvement.
Darnold’s acquisition will go down as one of the worst trades in franchise history. A gamble that eventually cost Matt Rhule his job and left general manager Scott Fitterer with no option other than to do something drastic.
Matt Corral – Carolina Panthers QB
The Carolina Panthers thought enough of Matt Corral to trade up to No. 94 overall and secure his services in 2022. However, those coaches who were so high on the quarterback coming out of Ole Miss are no longer around.
Frank Reich, Josh McCown, and others clearly had different thought processes regarding Corral. Missing his entire rookie campaign through a serious foot fracture complicated matters further, so the new regime just couldn’t bank on his capabilities when an opportunity like this presented itself.
That’s not to say Corral couldn’t be of use. But this will probably be as a backup option or potential trade bait depending on how he adjusts during the preseason.
Corral will fight hard for further involvement. However, the Panthers didn’t surge into the No. 1 overall position next month to not take a franchise quarterback and do whatever it takes to make this bold trade a success.
Again, this is the nature of the business. Something that Corral is finding out to his cost and with the promise of a veteran signal-caller also coming into the fold, a situation could emerge where he’s relegated to No. 3 on the depth chart unless major strides are made.
This coaching staff has no emotional attachment to Corral. Neither does Scott Fitterer, who didn’t have the final say on personnel when the player became their third-round pick.