What critical observations emerged from a potentially franchise-altering 2023 NFL Draft for the Carolina Panthers under their new regime?
After months of burning the midnight oil breaking down meticulous research, the 2023 NFL Draft has finally concluded, and teams can now turn the page to the next chapter of their off-season program.
You can look at the selections that teams made and have a better idea of the puzzle they’re putting together. Whether it’s filling a position of need, or seemingly selecting the best player available, each draft pick holds its own weight and often hints at the mental state of the front office and coaching staff.
Thanks to the copious amount of turnover within the Carolina Panthers coaching staff and roster alike, this draft was instrumental in establishing the path forward for the franchise.
When general manager Scott Fitterer and team owner David Tepper came to the business decision of acquiring the No. 1 overall pick, they delivered a message that the days of dastardly dipping our toes into the NFL 'big kid' pool, were in the rearview. Regardless of the eventual outcome, they were going to be aggressive in changing the culture here.
They began laying the foundation through free agency, acquiring veteran players such as Hayden Hurst, Vonn Bell, Miles Sanders, DeShawn Williams, and Adam Theilen, among others. Those additions provided some clarity, in terms of what other areas may hold priority once the draft was underway.
So now that the picks have been made and we’ve heard from the coaches and front office personnel in post-draft pressers, what are the significant takeaways from the Carolina Panthers 2023 draft?
Carolina Panthers go all-in on Bryce Young
There was so much pre-draft conversation after the acquisition of the No. 1 pick about who would have the ultimate say in the selection, what would happen if there wasn’t a consensus, and who would the pick be.
Transformational quarterback prospect Bryce Young apparently helped streamline that line of questioning for everyone involved.
In a recent article by Joe Person for The Athletic, the writer recalls general manager Scott Fitterer sharing how area scout Robert Haines, who also was the lead scout involved with the drafting of Luke Kuechly and Jaycee Horn, returned from a 2021 trip down to Tuscaloosa with a ringing endorsement for the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
There was speculation pointing to the franchise's owner, David Tepper, being a major proponent for bringing Young to Carolina almost as soon as the trade went down. Quite literally putting his money where his mouth was.
With the owner, general manager, and scouting department sharing the preference for Young, new head coach Frank Reich was the final domino to fall. And, as he said, it wasn’t a difficult decision to come to:
"You just watch the tape. There was a lot said about the size. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of factors that go into it. But we’re coaches. We’re scouts. We watch the tape. And when you watch the tape, Bryce Young’s the best player."Frank Reich via American Football Int
Now that we know with certainty that this wasn’t a decision made hastily or with any kind of meddling or pressure from a single party, we all should feel supremely confident that the Panthers got their franchise signal caller to lead the team for years to come.
Carolina Panthers are serious about Jonathan Mingo
As we’ve profiled previously in an article centered around elite Relative Athletic Scores for draft prospects in this class, Jonathan Mingo is a very impressive athlete. There’s no way to argue that point.
I began running mock draft scenarios in February when the Carolina Panthers were locked into the No. 9 overall spot before the Bryce Young trade, and I regularly found myself picking Mingo… but, with late-round picks such as 114 or even 132.
As the pre-draft process unfolded, NFL teams and draft pundits alike started fawning over the Ole Miss weapon. Mock drafts and big boards saw the wide receiver steadily climbing the ranks.
It made you wonder if the Panthers may have reached for him at the No. 39 overall pick, considering there were other areas that could stand to be upgraded with high-level talent at that point.
It wasn’t a reactionary pick. The coaches and scouting department genuinely loved Mingo as a prospect. He provides a dynamic skillset that just currently wasn’t on the roster. The prospect even mentioned that he was under the impression that if available at 39, the Panthers would be selecting him.
We’ve also seen young quarterbacks in the NFL take major strides when paired with legitimate, game-breaking weapons. Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown (also a former Ole Miss Rebel) come to mind immediately.
Frank Reich clearly had some in-depth strategizing and projection focused around Mingo and his fit in this Thomas Brown-implemented offense based on his comments in the post-draft presser following the second day:
"We just see him as a really good scheme fit. We run a lot of shallows, crosses, we want to get the ball vertical. He’s been very effective there. When a guy has elite ball skills and you’ve got a super accurate passer, like we do, that’s just a really good combination."Frank Reich via Newsday
Superlatives describing the second round wideout flow about as organically as he plays the game of football. This is a pick to be excited about, regardless of whatever preferences you may have had prior.
Carolina Panthers know the OL could use bolstering
Another prospect we threw the spotlight on in our Relative Athletic Score article, Chandler Zavala out of North Carolina State became the Carolina Panthers' pick at No. 114 overall pick in the draft.
Perhaps a situation that had some fans wondering if the pick wouldn’t have been better used on a secondary player or linebacker, the Panthers brass had their convictions and trusted them. Shoring up the interior of the offensive line was important, particularly with the selection of Bryce Young.
Creating a clean pocket for as long as possible is an integral and undeniable component of the formula for quarterback success in the NFL. We have seen even the elite players in the position struggle when they do not have adequate protection and time to dismantle opponents.
With both Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett suffering significant lower body injuries in the final game of the season last year, quality depth became even more imperative. Corbett, specifically, is expected to miss some regular season time to start the 2023 campaign.
Zavala may not start on the right side next to Taylor Moton immediately - that responsibility may land in the lap of second-year lineman Cade Mays. However, adding the brute force gives flexibility and insurance, should anyone else go down with injury or just not be playing up to the high level this team will need from this unit.
Carolina Panthers are not in rebuild mode – they’re expecting to compete
When a team picks first overall in the NFL Draft, it’s because they secured the worst regular season record for the prior season. Well, usually… unless the pick is acquired, as was the case with the Carolina Panthers this year.
Still, after missing the playoffs once again, relieving the coaching staff, trading away the top offensive playmakers, and ostensibly functioning through pure turmoil – the Panthers would be justified in conceding to a full-on rebuild.
But the selection of the most NFL-ready quarterback prospect equipped with process-blue ice water running through his veins, the free agent acquisitions, and the methodical approach to finding perfect personnel to compellingly operate the new offensive and defensive systems – this doesn’t feel like a rebuild one bit.
The veterans brought in didn’t come here for a big payday or because it’s a swanky active-lifestyle seniors’ community. The draft pieces added are expected to be fruitful for the future, absolutely. But, I believe they were also specifically chosen because they could immediately push their peers to be better and force this team into success.
I’m not implying that it’s a failure if Bryce Young doesn’t win NFL MVP next season. I’m not suggesting Jonathan Mingo should catch double-digit touchdowns and lead the team in receiving yards right away.
I do, however, believe that’s exactly the exceptionally high mentality each of them bring to the table. And that energy is going to be matched throughout the organization.
You don’t have to look any further than Miles Sanders’ comment when ESPN’s David Newton asked him before the draft about potentially playing with a 5-foot-10 rookie signal-caller:
"I mean, whoever we get, hopefully, it’s the best guy in the draft. And hopefully, whoever comes here just knows it’s time to work and we’re not rebuilding nothin’ over here, we’re trying to get straight to it."Miles Sanders via Yahoo Sports
That’s precisely what I saw from this team this weekend – the intention of getting straight to it.