Who are five prospects the Carolina Panthers should avoid when making their selections in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft?
So far this off-season has been arguably the most successful in recent memory for the Carolina Panthers. After assembling an all-star staff headed by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, the franchise headed into free agency with holes that needed filling on the roster.
Through the first week and a half, the Panthers are a totally different franchise from that we saw when a certain former college coach was in town. General manager Scott Fitterer now seemingly with full control is showing the NFL world his prowess as a prominent front-office figure.
Following the audacious move by the Panthers to move up to No. 1 overall, giving them the pick of the 2023 quarterback class, Carolina addressed a variety of positions early in free agency. Adam Thielen, Hayden Hurst, and Miles Sanders have all been brought in to ease the transition for a potential rookie signal-caller.
However, despite the blockbuster move by the Panthers to trade up, they effectively only lost pick No. 61 in this draft. Something that leaves the team with five additional selections for Fitterer and his team to fill out a roster that looks to take advantage of a weak NFC South and head to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
With that being said, here are five prospects the Panthers should avoid during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers should avoid Will Levis
Before the Carolina Panthers made their move to No. 1 overall, the most mocked player at No. 9 was former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. The prospect has experience playing in an NFL-style offense during his collegiate career and has all the physical attributes to be unstoppable at the next level.
Unfortunately for Levis, his 2022 tape left a lot to be desired as his production dropped significantly from 2021. It's important to note that he was playing in a different offensive scheme and behind a below-par offensive line. However, the signal-caller still underperformed considering his serious talent.
While Levis has all the intangibles to be successful at the next level, this shouldn’t be a reason to draft him at No. 1 overall. But if the Panthers were still sitting at No. 9, Levis would be a viable option.
However, the daring trade with the Chicago Bears to control the 2023 NFL Draft signified the Panthers have their eyes set on better prospects. That's the long and short of it, really.
Of the top three quarterbacks who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine, Levis arguably fared the worst. He struggled in parts with his deep ball and considering the player himself was bigging up his arm strength, this may be a concern.
While Levis is clearly a solid prospect, he is not someone the Panthers should consider with the top pick.
Carolina Panthers should avoid Anthony Richardson
This may be an unpopular name as the upside of Anthony Richardson is astronomical. But his limited starter tape at college means taking the Florida man No. 1 overall represents a huge risk for the Carolina Panthers.
The one player who stole the show at the NFL Scouting Combine was Richardson. His 4.43-second 40-yard dash was incredible and his 40.5-inch vertical was a quarterback record.
The signal-caller's 10-foot-9 broad jump equaled the best-ever mark for prospects at the position. This saw Richardson shooting up draft boards with some even mocking him in the top three.
Richardson's athletic traits are truly phenomenal. But he still has things to work on in terms of passing.
Just 13 starts at the collegiate level with the Gators and a 54.7 percent pass completion have left some concerned about how Richardson will translate at the next level. Even if the ceiling could be higher than any quarterback prospect entering the NFL this year.
The Panthers taking Richardson first overall is a huge risk. It’s been suggested that he'd need to sit for a year and acclimatize to the pros, so while Andy Dalton is an able backup the Panthers would need immediate production from their rookie.
Richardson may have a stellar career in the league. It just seems he’s not the right fit for the Panthers currently.
Carolina Panthers should avoid Darnell Washington
Another player with an incredible athletic skill set is former Georgia tight end Darnell Washington. The two-time national champion comes in at a crazy 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, runs a 4.64-second 40-yard dash time, and has all the traits to be totally dominant in the NFL.
The former five-star high school recruit didn’t have the impact some may have expected in Athens for the Bulldogs. His three years for Georgia yielded just 45 receptions for 774 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
However, it’s important to note Washington has been behind Brock Bowers for the last two seasons, who is a generational prospect and will likely be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Despite limited production, Washington’s incredible traits mean he likely will not make it far into the second round, if at all. This means if the Carolina Panthers were to add the hulking tight end, they’d need to do so at pick No. 39.
Carolina is currently short at the wide receiver spot after trading DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears. Therefore, the Panthers may be less inclined to draft a project like Washington so early.
While the Panthers have their new No. 1 tight end in Hayden Hurst, Washington will come into the league as mainly a blocking prospect in his early career. With both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas excelling in this discipline, general manager Scott Fitterer may be hesitant to add another to the room.
Carolina Panthers should avoid Andre Carter II
One would imagine no other 2023 NFL Draft prospects can say they are heading to the league thanks to President Joe Biden. Andre Carter II can, even if graduates of military academies are usually required to serve two years of active service.
Biden signed the 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. This includes a provision that allows military academy athletes to defer their mandatory post-graduation service. Carter - arguably the best-ever prospect from a military academy to become a professional - was granted permission to fulfill his NFL dreams.
However, despite the Carolina Panthers’ need for an edge rusher, Carter is someone they should avoid. After a stellar 2021 season which saw the player log an impressive 15.5 sacks, that number fell to just three last time around. And it’s hardly as if the Black Knights face high-level competition.
Some even touted the Texas native as a first-round pick. But after a struggle at the NFL Scouting Combine, Carter's draft stock has fallen and he may not see his name called until Day 2.
With the serious drop in production and his looming military service, the Panthers should look elsewhere to fill their edge-rushing needs. And after making some nice additions in free agency, the need is not as great as it once was, in any case.
Carolina Panthers should avoid Tank Dell
Another player who may have seen his draft stock slide at the NFL Scouting Combine is Nathaniel “Tank” Dell. The Daytona Beach native - despite totaling 2,727 receiving yards and 29 scores over the past two years - might not be the hot commodity many anticipate after a poor showcase during drills.
With the Carolina Panthers having needs at wide receiver, one would imagine the powers that be in Charlotte will be looking at Dell. But he seems to have too many blemishes to have a real impact at the next level.
Already an older prospect at 23 years old, Dell has a very slender frame measuring just 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds. His 4.49-second 40-yard dash time doesn’t indicate elite speed to make up for size issues and despite his big numbers for the Houston Cougars, he was credited with 21 drops over the last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus.
With Dell seemingly sliding down draft boards, it seems likely he’ll be available when the Panthers pick on Day 3. But with so many concerns surrounding the player, the team may look to fill out skill positions earlier in the draft in order to maximize the impact a rookie quarterback can have for new head coach Frank Reich when the 2023 campaign begins.