Panthers News: Bryce Young, Jadeveon Clowney, Russell Okung and Hayden Hurst

Which Carolina Panthers news stories are making waves as players get set to report back for informal workouts later on today?

The rumor mill continues to churn as the Carolina Panthers edge closer to their important choice at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. All four top quarterbacks will visit Bank of America Stadium this week, which is the final official stage of the process before discussions gather pace between influential figures within the war room. 

Among the stories making the headlines recently include Hayden Hurst getting engaged, former left tackle Russell Okung's phenomenal transformation, the Panthers being linked with Jadeveon Clowney, and the ongoing momentum surrounding Bryce Young.

Let's delve deeper into each topic. 

Carolina Panthers TE gets engaged

It's been a whirlwind offseason for Hayden Hurst in more ways than one. The tight end was snapped up by the Carolina Panthers in free agency to provide a better pass-catching presence at the position, which is sure to assist whichever quarterback they take at No. 1 overall greatly during their important transition from college to the professional ranks. 

Hurst wasted no time in making some memories in Charlotte. A social media post from the veteran announced his engagement, which was met with widespread congratulations across the NFL and Panthers community along the way. 

Hopefully, all this positivity will translate to outstanding production on the field for Hurst, who comes to Carolina on the back of an exceptional stint with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Former Carolina Panthers OT transforms

One of the biggest early splashes made by previous head coach Matt Rhule was trading Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner for veteran left tackle Russell Okung. However, it didn't have the desired effect thanks in no small part to a series of unfortunate injury complications. 

Okung was a stable blindside presence when available, but it became fleeting throughout the 2020 campaign. The one-time Oklahoma State star featured in just 406 snaps, giving up three sacks and conceding four penalties en route to a creditable 73.0 grade from Pro Football Focus. 

That was the last anyone saw of Okung as an NFL player, which was something of a surprise. However, the desire wasn't there for the No. 6 overall selection in 2010 after two Pro Bowl distinctions and a Super Bowl ring.

Judging by the recent photo of Okung, he's been working hard on transforming his 310-pound frame since leaving the gridiron. The ex-player sent shockwaves through the NFL community with a social media post to show off his newfound slender appearance on Sunday evening. 

This goes to show what players have to go through - especially on the offensive and defensive lines - to get their weight up and become more forceful. It is also the latest transformation centered around former Panthers offensive linemen, with Ryan Kalil also dropping an unbelievable amount of weight after he called it a day.

Jadeveon Clowney to the Carolina Panthers?

Even though the Carolina Panthers have made some decent additions to their defensive front, they are still in desperate need of a true pass-rushing presence opposite Brian Burns. This could arrive via the 2023 NFL Draft if the right prospect falls to No. 39 overall, but those in power also boast a significant amount of salary-cap space to explore a possible veteran signing, too. 

Despite free agency being a month old, there are still some intriguing options sitting on the market. Perhaps the biggest name of all is Jadeveon Clowney, who wasn't brought back by the Cleveland Browns and is still searching for his next opportunity. 

Clowney is synonymous with the area and became a national sensation at South Carolina en route to becoming the No. 1 overall selection. While he might not have lived up to the generational tag, Judy Battista of NFL.com recently named the Panthers and Baltimore Ravens as possible landing spots for the defensive end. 

"Jadeveon Clowney—who, of course, did not end very well in Cleveland. Sort of an unfortunate end. But keep an eye on teams like, again, the Baltimore Ravens—who lost Calais Campbell. Really valuable rusher. Clowney, perhaps, can fill a role there. And then also, the Carolina Panthers—a team that, again, is shifting everything. They need pass-rushing help."

Judy Battista, NFL.com via Panthers Wire

Much will depend on the money Clowney wants and whether he could fit onto Ejiro Evero's 3-4 base scheme effectively. But if the Panthers cannot find assistance from the college ranks, it's a definite possibility.

Carolina Panthers momentum with Bryce Young is 'real'

As debates rage on about the No. 1 overall selection and which way the Carolina Panthers should go, one of the most respected insiders in the business added further weight to the recent momentum surrounding Bryce Young. This comes on the back of ESPN's Chris Mortensen highlighting the former Alabama stud will be their guy atop the 2023 NFL Draft. 

In Peter King's latest Football Morning in America column, he echoed Mortensen's sentiments about influential people in Carolina being high on Young. The writer added that if he was chosen over C.J. Stroud, it's another example of how the game is changing and talent is being perceived.

"I agree with (Chris) Mortensen that it’s not a done deal, but the momentum toward (Bryce) Young is real. What’s interesting if the 5-10 Young goes before the 6-3 (and accomplished) C.J. Stroud is how it signifies how much the game has changed over the past few years. Young likes people comparing him to a point guard, a distributor of the ball to the open man, because it illustrates a lot about modern quarterbacking. In today’s game, a short quarterback can work better than a generation ago because it’s more of a horizontal, short-passing game overall."

Peter King, NBC Sports

The risks are obvious if the Panthers went with Young. The signal-caller is not only small, but his slender build could lead to complications if the offensive line doesn't hold up its end of the bargain. 

However, the reward could be exceptional thanks to his majestic pocket manipulation, ability to make every throw, and elite-level processing. So it's not hard to see why Carolina's brass are rumored to be so enticed.