Which Carolina Panthers players can we safely call draft busts after the 2023 season, one of the worst in franchise history?
One of Scott Fitterer's biggest complications as Carolina Panthers general manager was a failure to draft effectively. His background in college scouting brought optimism that things would improve. While Matt Rhule's final say on personnel matters complicated matters, it was an underwhelming three-year stint with the franchise.
Fitterer just couldn't find the right quality. There were a few hits along the way, but betting on athletic upside rather than legitimate college production proved to be his undoing.
Before writing this, I contemplated what should be considered a draft bust. For me, it's a prospect taken in the first 120 selections that didn't make a lasting contribution for one reason or another. Of course, it's subjective, but that's my take on it.
With this in mind, here are four Panthers players we can safely call busts after the 2023 season.
Ian Thomas - Carolina Panthers TE
Ian Thomas had countless chances to carve out a significant role for himself. The tight end was tabbed as Greg Olsen's heir apparent after being taken No. 101 overall in 2018. When the opportunity came to step up, he fluffed his lines.
Thomas couldn't cope with the pressure of being Carolina's go-to option at the position. The consistency Olsen brought to the table was sorely missed and remains so to this day. The former Indiana star has been relegated to an afterthought - a blocking specialist. With a new regime coming into the fold, his future is in doubt.
While the Panthers would need to eat some dead-cap money to remove Thomas after the previous regime inexplicably handed him a lucrative extension, it's something to consider. The juice is no longer worth the squeeze.
Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
When the Carolina Panthers ignored other glaring needs to select Terrace Marshall Jr. at No. 59 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, those in power seemed pretty pleased with themselves. They stopped the player from joining a division rival - the New Orleans Saints were reportedly ready to take him with the next pick - and thought he'd be able to become a physical factor in the passing game to go alongside D.J. Moore.
Marshall was the overlooked member of LSU's iconic offense behind the likes of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson. The hope was he could excel with more responsibilities on his shoulders. Aside from the odd flash and starring during training camps, it's been a largely underwhelming three years in Carolina.
For some reason, the Panthers and Marshall weren't a good match. He's mustered 110 targets - 64 of which he's brought in for 767 receiving yards and one touchdown - but everything has yet to come together for the wideout. These frustrations boiled over before the 2023 trade deadline when he asked to seek a move away.
Those in positions of power granted this request. Unfortunately for the wideout, no offer worth considering arrived. That's a glaring indication of how his talent is being perceived around the league.
Marshall is a candidate for early release this offseason. Considering where he was drafted, it's a bitter disappointment.
Chandler Zavala - Carolina Panthers OL
I'm always wary about putting first-year players on this type of list. They need a bit of good grace - especially given the toxic environment within the Carolina Panthers last season. But it's hard to look at Chandler Zavala with any other tag after an atrocious start to his NFL journey.
Offensive line coach James Campen was doing cartwheels in the draft war room after the Panthers selected Zavala at No. 114 overall. He texted general manager Scott Fitterer before Day 3 began to stake one final claim. This was worth its weight in gold as he became their fourth-round selection.
While many thought Zavala was a development project, some analysts thought he could slot into a starting role immediately with a smooth transition. With Austin Corbett on the shelf, the North Carolina State product got his shot.
In hindsight, this was way too soon. Zavala was overwhelmed and outmatched in pass protection. There were some flashes on running plays, but nowhere near the level expected from a starting guard at the next level.
Zavala going down with an injury was a blessing in disguise from the play's standpoint. In just 374 snaps of offense, he's credited with six sacks conceded and three penalties allowed. His 26.2 grade from Pro Football Focus is one of the worst ever recorded.
I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but this looks like a wasted selection from the Panthers until proven otherwise.
D.J. Johnson - Carolina Panthers OLB
Again, I'm happy to be proved wrong about this in the coming years. But trading up for edge rusher D.J. Johnson was a bad pick at the time and seems even more so now.
Heads were scratched around the media when the Panthers surged up for Johnson at No. 80 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Many thought this was a panic decision after general manager Scott Fitterer stated they were running out of pass-rushers to take from their board. Depending on the analyst, he either carried a Day 3 projection or in some cases, the undrafted tag. Nobody had him going relatively early in the third round.
To nobody's surprise, Johnson found life difficult. He was incredibly raw after transitioning to the defensive side of things at Oregon after initially starting as a tight end. Chances of reps on the rotation were restricted early on under Ejiro Evero. When opportunities arrived later in the campaign, there wasn't enough explosiveness to make a significant difference.
Johnson is older than most players entering their second season. Time is of the essence if he wants to make anything of his NFL career. But there is a huge amount of work ahead.
Much will depend on what reinforcements come in this offseason, but Johnson could be fighting for his roster spot this summer. Taking him as a third-round pick was bad enough. Sacrificing additional assets for the privilege was incompetence of the highest order.