Which Carolina Panthers news stories have hit the headlines recently as things start falling into place ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft?
It's been hard to keep up with all the Carolina Panthers news since the 2022 campaign came to a conclusion. But it's hard to look at the countless moves and appointments and not think big things could be in the team's immediate future if everything comes together.
Among the stories taking up column inches recently include Anthony Richardson's visit, a cornerback prospect drawing interest, Thomas Brown opening up about the offensive playbook, and another pendulum shift for Bryce Young ahead of his upcoming meeting with the Panthers.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Carolina Panthers host Anthony Richardson
The first official quarterback visit took place on Monday. According to multiple reports, the Carolina Panthers hosted Anthony Richardson, who remains the wildcard after an exceptional display of athletic prowess at the NFL Scouting Combine and pro day.
Richardson is reportedly a favorite of Frank Reich's, even if the momentum seems to be building around Bryce Young at an important stage of the assessment process. However, nothing has or should be ruled out right now with only a few trusted people within the decision-making process aware of how this could potentially go.
The former Florida signal-caller has enormous upside and could be generational if expectations are met. And yet, it would be a massive surprise if the Panthers went in this particular direction.
Carolina Panthers set to welcome Julius Brents
It's not just the quarterback conundrum that the Carolina Panthers must solve during the 2023 NFL Draft. A number of other position groups need a fresh injection of life before preparations for the upcoming campaign ramp-up.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Panthers are bringing in a fast-rising cornerback for one of their top 30 visits in the coming days. Julius Brents has the athletic profile associated with productive NFL cornerbacks and seems to fit what general manager Scott Fitterer normally looks for in college prospects on the defensive side of things.
Brents is fast, aggressive, and agile enough to potentially become a Day 1 starter provided there are no complications during his transition. The player has no trouble coping with bigger wide receivers at 6-foot-3, which is something else that won't go unnoticed by league personnel before the all-important selection process.
The former Kanas State standout boasts exceptional ball skills to go along with his physical attributes. Brents' instincts and explosiveness allow the defensive back to identify turnover chances and strike with conviction, so it's not hard to see why he's being so heavily coveted pre-draft.
Once the player improves discipline and footwork, someone is going to have a tremendous performer on their hands. However, time is of the essence for Brents given he's 24 years old.
Thomas Brown on carving the Carolina Panthers playbook
Frank Reich might be getting the attention given his previous background on offense. But Thomas Brown is the one crafting the Carolina Panthers' playbook heading into OTAs and training camp.
The newly appointed offensive coordinator wasted no time stamping his mark on the Carolina Panthers. Something that has impressed Reich and others along the way.
Brown recently sat down with Augusta Stone from Panthers.com to discuss the process. There seems to be a starting-from-scratch mindset as Carolina looks to mold their play-calling options around those on the roster in pursuit of maximizing their ability to become successful under the new regime.
"For the most part, it is mostly building off what you already know. You find things that work well. But most importantly, does it work well for the players that you have? If it doesn't, it's not worth spending time going through and trying to add in to it. There's definitely a process when it comes to setting a foundation, who you want to be philosophically, and making sure whatever plays you're bringing up fit into that same identity and philosophy."Thomas Brown via Panthers.com
There's a lot to like about having a progressive figure like Brown working in cohesion with Reich, one of the most experienced figureheads in the business.
Much like the situation surrounding defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, a potential head coaching gig won't be far behind if the Panthers' offense thrives and Brown eventually takes over the play-calling to further boost his blossoming reputation.
Bryce Young betting shift ahead of Carolina Panthers visit
One doesn't have to look far across the media and fanbase to see the momentum being generated by Bryce Young in recent days. The Carolina Panthers are doing due diligence on the top four quarterback prospects, but leaks are starting to emerge about the Alabama product being their guy at No. 1 overall.
Young is scheduled to speak with the Panthers on his top-30 visit today. This is likely to play a significant role in cementing the team's choice with C.J. Stroud and Will Levis coming later in the week.
Ahead of the meeting, there was notable movement in betting odds in Young's favor despite his durability concerns. FanDuel Sportsbook shifted the odds to make him joint-favorite alongside Stroud at -115 (bet $115 to win $100), which comes after the former Ohio State star's led the running throughout the evaluation stage.
BetMGM has Stroud as the slightest favorite at 3/4 as Young moved into 19/20. The pendulum is moving, which is a similar situation to last year when buzz began emerging where Travon Walker to the Jacksonville Jaguars was concerned.
Until something is confirmed one way or another, it's just speculation for now. But all signs are now pointing to Young going up to the stage once the Panthers turn in their card.