After the Chicago Bears traded the No. 1 general choose within the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers on March 10, league insiders and informal followers alike started feeling assured that a quarterback might be taken first.
Panthers normal supervisor Scott Fitterer confirmed it on Monday.
“We wished to be in place to get a quarterback,” he mentioned, in response to NFL.com.
Who will the Panthers choose?
ESPN’s David Newton reported that Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich haven’t dominated out any of the highest 4 quarterback prospects but and are doing their due diligence.
On Wednesday, the staff brass attended Ohio State’s professional day to observe C.J. Stroud. Panthers quarterback coach Josh McCown was overheard telling Stroud, “Possibly once you stay in Charlotte we’ll discover a court docket” to play HORSE.
Did #Panthers coach Josh McCown inform CJ Stroud: “Possibly once you stay in Charlotte we’ll discover a court docket.” ?
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 22, 2023
👀pic.twitter.com/an4SsDGZ1H
Additionally they had dinner with Alabama’s Bryce Younger Wednesday night time, NFL Networks’ Mike Garafolo reported. Workforce proprietor Nicole Tepper was photographed hugging Younger on Thursday earlier than his professional day began.
Proprietor Nicole Tepper wishing Alabama QB Bryce Younger luck forward of his professional day pic.twitter.com/Y3jhDrVweM
— Augusta Stone (@augustalstone) March 23, 2023
No matter who the Panthers choose, 4 prospects could possibly be taken within the first spherical, regardless of the primary spherical being shorter after the Miami Dolphins misplaced their first spherical choose as punishment for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Most NFL consultants count on three of the primary 4 picks to be quarterbacks, and one skilled even sees 5 quarterbacks going within the first spherical.
Younger has lengthy been the rumored No. 1 general choose, however as of March 23, Stroud is the brand new favourite at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and PointsBet, in response to Sportsbook Assessment.
Apart from Younger and Stroud, which quarterbacks are anticipated to be taken within the first spherical and by which groups?
Right here’s a have a look at the highest 4 prospects and the place they’re anticipated to be drafted:
Bryce Younger
In his two seasons as a starter at Alabama, Younger threw for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, in response to ESPN. The Heisman Trophy winner accomplished 65.9% of his passes as a starter.
One of many essential issues with Younger is his measurement. On the mix, he was measured at 5-foot-10 1/8 inches and 204 kilos, The Related Press reported. He didn't weigh in at his professional day.
The place do NFL consultants assume Younger might be picked?
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 1 by the Carolina Panthers.
CBS Sports activities’ Pete Prisco: No. 1 by the Panthers.
Professional Soccer Focus: No. 1 by the Panthers.
Cannot wait to observe @_bryce_young make throws like these at @AlabamaFTBL's Professional Day in the present day 👀
— NFL (@NFL) March 23, 2023
📱: NFL+ Professional Days Stay https://t.co/1XYzgqp7bdpic.twitter.com/DsfHbp8AwT
C.J. Stroud
After backing up Justin Fields, who now performs for the Chicago Bears, in 2020, Stroud threw for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his two seasons as a starter at Ohio State, in response to ESPN. He accomplished 69.3% of his passes in these two seasons.
Fox Sports activities’ Rob Rang referred to as Stroud essentially the most correct of the quarterbacks on this draft class however identified that he isn’t a lot of a scrambler.
The place do NFL consultants assume Stroud might be picked?
NFL.com: No. 2 by the Houston Texans.
CBS Sports activities: No. 2 by the Houston Texans.
Professional Soccer Focus: No. 3 to the Las Vegas Raiders, who commerce their No. 7 and No. 100 picks to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 choose on this mock draft.
The @OhioStateFB duo's record-breaking 2022 Rose Bowl efficiency was otherworldly 🔥🚀@CJ7STROUD: 37/46, 573 passing yards, 6 TDs@jaxon_smith1: 15 receptions, 347 yards, 3 TDs
— NFL (@NFL) March 22, 2023
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft -- Begins Thursday, April 27 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/gpSsKbuLnj
Anthony Richardson
The College of Florida’s Anthony Richardson had a shedding report in his 13 video games as a starter. All however one among his begins got here in his sophomore season, wherein he threw for two,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, in response to ESPN. He accomplished 53.8% of his passes.
Earlier this month, Richardson obtained folks’s consideration when he in contrast himself to Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson on the NFL mix.
“I began calling myself Cam Jackson in eleventh grade, simply attempting to make performs,” he mentioned, per USA Right now.
The place do NFL consultants assume Richardson might be picked?
NFL.com: No. 4 by the Indianapolis Colts.
CBS Sports activities: No. 5 by the Seattle Seahawks.
Professional Soccer Focus: No. 2 by the Houston Texans.
perspective on Anthony Richardson's measurement:
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 4, 2023
Anthony Richardson: 6'4”, 244 lbs
George Kittle: 6'4", 247 lbs
Derrick Henry: 6'3”, 247 lbs
Von Miller: 6'3”, 246 lbs
Ben Roethlisberger: 6'5”, 241 lbs
Cam Newton: 6'5”, 248 lbs pic.twitter.com/9MNW4SxyT5
Will Levis
In his two seasons on the College of Kentucky, Will Levis threw for five,232 yards, 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, in response to ESPN. He accomplished 65.7% of his passes as a Wildcat. Previous to transferring to Kentucky, he spent two seasons at Penn State.
As evidenced by the mock drafts beneath, consultants are combined on the place Levis might find yourself. Whereas nonetheless an choice for one of many first picks, consultants additionally see him falling to as late as No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings in NFL.com’s Charles Davis’ mock draft.
The place do NFL consultants assume Levis might be picked?
NFL.com: No. 19 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
CBS Sports activities: No. 4 by the Colts.
Professional Soccer Focus: No. 4 by the Colts.
.@UKFootball's professional day is in the present day and all eyes might be on Will Levis 🚀
— The thirty third Workforce (@The33rdTeamFB) March 24, 2023
Jordan Palmer breaks down the strong-armed prospect's movie and why his soccer IQ flies underneath the radar
Full video » https://t.co/q2HS4hvych | @JwPalmspic.twitter.com/cdEwVrh7mv