Bryce Young

Draft Rumors: Young, Panthers, Stroud, Texans, Colts, Smith, Lions, WRs, Cardinals, Titans, Falcons, Johnston, Jaguars, Vikings

April 10th, 2023 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers have not locked onto Bryce Young just yet, but the pendulum continues to swing toward the Alabama prospect over C.J. Stroud. David and Nicole Tepper spent extensive time with Young’s parents at Alabama’s pro day last month, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, and Michael Lombardi said during his GM Shuffle podcast the Carolina owner met with Nick Saban in the Crimson Tide HC’s office during the pro day. This comes after reports last week began to stray from the Stroud-to-Charlotte narrative, one that formed largely because Young stands 5-foot-10 and plays under 200 pounds (despite his 204-pound Combine weight).

Carolina will meet with Young on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, with Breer adding Young has already impressed Frank Reich in previous settings. It will be interesting to see if more smoke emerges here, as the Panthers do not exactly have to keep this a secret given their updated draft position, or if Stroud remains in the mix. Many scouts and execs polled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Stroud’s 6-3, 214-pound frame make him safer and will help him become Carolina’s choice, though that poll still produced a slim advantage for Young to go No. 1 overall. Despite the Panthers meeting with Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, it certainly looks like Young or Stroud will be the pick.

Here is the latest from the draft scene:

The Colts discussed the No. 1 pick with the Bears before the Panthers won out, but Breer adds Indianapolis was not ready to do a deal before free agency. The team was still in the process of evaluating the QB prospects and was not prepared to part with significant capital to move up from No. 4 to No. 1. Houston also backed out, having been farther down the road in trade talks with Chicago. Bears GM Ryan Poles spoke of his team trading down twice — moving from 1 to 2 to 9, allowing the Texans and Panthers to climb up for QBs — but Breer notes Nick Caserio‘s team became uncomfortable with the deal later in the process.
Texans ownership is more involved in this year’s draft process, per Breer, who is less bullish on Houston selecting a quarterback compared to how this situation looked ahead of the Combine. The Texans’ negotiations with the Bears unmasked them as being willing to trade up for one particular quarterback, potentially pointing to the team being high on either Stroud or Young but not as sold on the other. Since the Panthers obtained the pick, the Texans have been connected to possibly punting on their QB need and taking Will Anderson Jr.. A trade-down scenario, per Breer, should also not be discounted.
Nolan Smith is gaining steam during the pre-draft process, with Fowler noting some scouts are pegging the edge rusher as a top-10 pick. The Lions (Nos. 6, 18) have done homework on the Georgia outside linebacker, per Fowler, and the Patriots (No. 14), Buccaneers (No. 19), Ravens (No. 22) and Jaguars (No. 24) have met with Smith. Scouts view the 238-pound defender as a better fit for a team in a 3-4 scheme, and the Steelers (No. 17) — long users of that base alignment — have emerged as a potential Smith floor.
More teams are bringing in TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Following a report that indicated the Ravens, Cowboys and Chiefs were hosting Johnston, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the 6-foot-3 pass catcher will meet with the Cardinals, Falcons (No. 8), Vikings (No. 23) and Jaguars. Most of these visits will occur this week, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the Titans (No. 11) huddled up with the ex-Horned Frog on Monday (Twitter link). Barring a fall into Round 2 or the Cards moving down considerably from No. 3 overall, Johnston would not seem in their range. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Vikings selecting Johnston. This receiver class has generated mixed reviews, with NBC Sports’ Peter King adding teams have the higher-end wideouts in varying orders on their respective boards, but Johnston has consistently been mocked as a first-rounder.

Panthers Leaning Toward Bryce Young?

April 7th, 2023 at 10:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

In what looks to be signaling a shift, Bryce Young is looking like a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall now. Although C.J. Stroud continues to be the leadoff man in the major mock drafts, Young-Panthers links are multiplying.

Even as Panthers-Stroud connections persist, Frank Reich-driven height concerns re: Young might be overblown. Carolina’s trade-up may have been Young-centered all along, with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen indicating during a recent TV appearance (h/t Panthers On Tap) the Alabama prospect will likely be the No. 1 overall pick.

A report from longtime NFL insider Peter King revealed Young has plenty of support in Carolina’s building, and Mortensen confirms the Panthers are big fans of the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. While Young’s 5-foot-10 stature and slender frame has injected uncertainty into an otherwise standout prospect’s viability, he displayed high-level accuracy and pocket movement during a dominant two-year run as the Crimson Tide’s starter.

Young is set to become the third straight Alabama starting quarterback to be a first-round pick, and he will undoubtedly be selected higher than Tua Tagovailoa (No. 5) and Mac Jones (15) were in their respective drafts. Mortensen also likened this Panthers situation to the 49ers’ 2021 process, doubling down on the notion San Francisco indeed had Jones in mind when it traded up nine spots to No. 3 that year. The 49ers’ course change to Trey Lance is close to being viewed as one of the bigger draft missteps — considering what the team gave up to obtain that pick — in recent draft history, and Mortensen said the Panthers should be expected to stick with their initial preference (Young) instead of going through with a size-based Stroud pivot.

Young would obviously bring a considerably different type of QB into the building compared to the last time Carolina selected a passer at No. 1. At 6-3 and 214 pounds, Stroud is also not especially close to Cam Newton here (6-5, 245). Reich has been mentioned as preferring big-frame QBs, but this will be his first significant draft choice at the position as a head coach. Though, he was the Eagles’ OC when they traded up for the 6-5 Carson Wentz in 2016. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer was with the Seahawks when they drafted Russell Wilson. While drafting a quarterback 75th overall is rather different than a No. 1 pick, Fitterer has obviously seen a short quarterback enjoy tremendous success up close.

Reich and Fitterer have brought several Panthers staffers into this process, and the new HC is not viewed as likely to overturn a consensus. The Panthers taking this route would leave Stroud on the board for the Texans, who have been more connected to Young during the pre-draft process. Stroud met with the Texans on Wednesday.

Many Panthers Staffers Back Bryce Young

April 6th, 2023 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The last time the Panthers held the No. 1 overall pick, little doubt existed about the franchise’s direction. The consensus top quarterback in the 2011 draft, Cam Newton served as Carolina’s quarterback for nearly a decade. Three weeks ahead of this year’s draft, the team — despite trading up eight spots for the top pick — may not have a decision yet.

Although the Panthers’ pendulum is swinging toward C.J. Stroud, Peter King of NBC Sports reports Bryce Young has several key supporters in the building. New QBs coach Josh McCown looks to be one of them. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay each mock the Ohio State passer to Carolina at 1, but ESPN and NFL.com rank the former Alabama superstar as the draft’s best prospect. Stroud sits second on ESPN.com’s big board and seventh on Daniel Jeremiah’s.

Frank Reich and GM Scott Fitterer have included many staffers in this process, bringing more than 10 to prospects’ pro days. Reich has wanted the staff to draw their own conclusions before the franchise decides how to proceed. While Reich said Young’s height will not be a key factor, King adds it likely is an issue for Carolina’s first-year HC. A longtime friend of Reich’s informed King he would be surprised if the Panthers took the 5-foot-10 Young. Stroud brings a prototypical QB frame to the equation, standing 6-3 and weighing 214 pounds. Young’s weight has generated scrutiny as well. After bulking up to 204 pounds at the Combine, Young did not weigh in at his pro day.

Reich will be unlikely to throw his weight around and overrule a consensus, per King, should he not agree with the prevailing staff opinion. This could lead to a scenario in which the new coach is outvoted. But the veteran leader does hold Young in high regard, opening the door to the coach being OK with either QB. When revisiting Reich’s Colts tenure, it would be strange to see him stand down if enough Panthers staffers back the QB he ranks second. Reich’s Indianapolis setup looked like a premier foundation in 2019, but Andrew Luck‘s retirement led to it unraveling. The Colts’ inability to find a Luck replacement led to Reich’s midseason firing last year. And the Panthers obviously sent the Bears plenty to pry away the No. 1 pick.

It might end up that the HC views Stroud as a safer bet compared to a 5-10 QB that did not rush for 200 yards in a college season. But Young’s production-athleticism combination still intrigues. He will attempt to follow the likes of Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray to the Pro Bowl level despite pre-draft height concerns.

The Panthers going with Stroud would put the Texans to a decision. Long mocked to take Young at 2, Houston will need to decide if he is worth the investment. The Texans going with a safer pick, in ex-Young Crimson Tide teammate Will Anderson Jr., and tabling their QB choice should not be ruled out. Young making it to No. 3 on the board would create a fascinating draft sequence, with teams previously linked to higher-variance options like Anthony Richardson or Will Levis potentially prepared to send the Cardinals big offers to move up for Young. The Colts (No. 4) are working out Young this week; the Raiders (No. 7) are hosting the 2021 Heisman winner today. The Titans have also been linked to moving up to No. 3 for a passer.

Raiders To Meet With QB Bryce Young

April 5th, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bryce Young is not expected to be available when the Raiders pick at No. 7 overall, but the team will still continue its quarterback research project by meeting with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

The Alabama-developed prospect will meet with the Raiders on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Young will head to Las Vegas for the meeting, doing so after spending time with Raiders brass in Tuscaloosa around the date of his pro day. Young is also working out for the Colts in California this week.

The Raiders have been connected to potentially trading up for a quarterback, though the window for a move — the Cardinals’ slot at No. 3 overall — may still not be sufficient to land Young. The Panthers are still in play to take Young at No. 1 overall, though C.J. Stroud may have a slight lead, and the Texans have been the team steadily connected to the 5-foot-10 passer. A recent report, however, indicated Houston is not dead-set on selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall. That would open the door for Young or Stroud to be available at No. 3.

Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year deal with the Raiders; the team guaranteed the veteran starter $33.75MM. The Garoppolo agreement has not taken the Raiders out of consideration for a first-round QB, and as the team transitions from its nine-year Derek Carr era, the Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler duo is doing regular homework on this year’s crop of rookie arms. Garoppolo profiles as a bridge player, and Brian Hoyer is now in place as a veteran backup. But the Raiders also may have Hoyer in mind as a mentor-type for a draftee-to-be.

A scenario in which the Texans take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson at No. 2 would make Young or Stroud available to teams that may not have anticipated such an outcome, potentially increasing the value of the Cardinals’ draft choice. Of course, Anderson going higher than expected would also mean three first-round-level QBs are available beyond No. 2 overall compared to two. The Raiders have done work on each passer, having already met with Will Levis. They will be the first team to host Anthony Richardson as well; that meeting is set for Friday.

Both Mel Kiper Jr. and ESPN colleague Todd McShay have Young going to the Texans at 2. Frame concerns notwithstanding, Young is viewed as a safer bet compared to Richardson or Levis. Young threw 47 touchdown passes during his 2021 Heisman season, adding 4,782 passing yards. The two-year Crimson Tide starter sits No. 1 on both NFL.com and ESPN.com’s respective big boards.

Colts Working Out QBs Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis

April 4th, 2023 at 1:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 4: Indianapolis brass will go through an important week. In addition to the Stroud and Young meetings, the Colts plan to work out Levis on Thursday in Lexington, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Colts are also working out Richardson.

These meetings will carry significant weight. Despite the league knowing the Colts need a quarterback, the AFC South club did not have a representative at Levis’ pro day. Area scout Mike Lacy was the Colts’ only rep at Ohio State’s pro day, and Breer adds chief personnel executive Morocco Brown served as the Indy presence at Alabama’s. These are rather light contingents compared to most teams’ groups, but the Colts will clearly place more stock in their one-on-one sessions. Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock has the Colts selecting Levis; Todd McShay’s has them trading up to No. 3 for Richardson.

APRIL 3: The team perhaps mentioned most frequently with respect to quarterback speculation this offseason has been the Colts. Set to draft fourth overall, they will have the chance to add a long-term signal-caller, though their options are expected to be limited to a degree. In spite of that, the team is committed to doing their homework on the top prospects at the position.

Indianapolis is set to hold workouts today with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, reports Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). Those two are widely regarded as the top passers in the 2023 class, leading to the expectation that they will be taken first and second overall (in one order or the other) by the Panthers and Texans.

Presuming that happens, the Colts will need to turn to either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis if they wish to select a quarterback; a number of options at other positions will be available as well, of course. Breer notes that Indianapolis elected to not send a large contingent of coaches, scouts and executives to last week’s quarterback Pro Days, preferring to hold private workouts with potential draftees instead.

Young is seen by many as the top QB available, after his highly productive tenure with Alabama. The 2021 Heisman winner took a step back in terms of production this past season, but still showcased his abilities as a passer and, occasionally, a rusher. His frame has led to notable concerns about his ability to translate his success to the pro game, though the strengths of the other elements of his game and his pre-draft process to date have alleviated some of them.

Stroud likewise delivered on high expectations at Ohio State while serving as their QB1. Putting up two campaigns with substantial production, he projects as the most traditional NFL passer given his combination of size and accuracy. Those factors have led many to believe he is the favorite to be taken first overall, with an apparent floor of the No. 2 spot owned by the Texans.

The Colts are taking an expansive view of all (potential) options under center, as they look to make this the final offseason for many years in which they search for a new quarterback atop the depth chart. They signed Gardner Minshew during free agency, and have been loosely connected to pursuing Lamar Jackson, though an addition of the latter remains unlikely at this point. The team has remained steadfast in their preference for a rookie to take on the starting role relatively soon, and for the long-term future. Young and Stroud most closely fit the bill in that regard, and Indianapolis will be well-informed should either slide down the board to them.

Texans, Lions, Bears Host Will Anderson Jr.; Houston Not Locked Into QB At No. 2?

April 4th, 2023 at 12:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pre-draft visit season is in full swing, and the Texans are once again in possession of a top-three pick. The rebuilding team has long been expected to go with a quarterback at No. 2 overall, but GM Nick Caserio has not yet rushed into choosing a potential long-term Deshaun Watson replacement.

The Texans have met with Will Anderson Jr., Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Houston joins Chicago and Detroit in having met with the sought-after edge rusher. The Bears and Lions have made their plans known at quarterback, committing to Justin Fields and Jared Goff for 2023. The Texans’ meeting obviously proves more interesting.

Houston has been linked to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Young and Will Levis have met with the Texans on pre-draft visits, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds Stroud will do so Wednesday (Twitter link). Expected to be the second team to take a quarterback in this draft, the Texans are not a lock to do so. Were Caserio not to love a quarterback who will be available at 2, NBC Sports’ Peter King hears some chatter the Texans could draft Anderson, who is considered a safer bet. The team has not scheduled a meeting with Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

In this scenario, King notes the Texans could use their No. 12 overall pick to trade back into position for one of the top quarterbacks. But taking Anderson at 2 and sacrificing future draft capital for perhaps the draft’s third- or fourth-best QB may not be the best plan from a value standpoint, but if the Texans like Anderson that much, it is a potential blueprint to monitor. The Texans do not have much in the way of edge talent, having lost Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to the Browns in free agency. DeMeco Ryans built his head coaching candidacy on the strength of strong defensive lines. The Texans have signed Sheldon Rankins and still have Maliek Collins under contract, but they are light on edge-rushing presences.

This should still be considered the less likely route for Houston, and King expects Caserio to indeed commit to a quarterback at 2. This marks the GM’s second draft with Watson in the rearview mirror, and after making his first two HC hires (David Culley, Lovie Smith) one-and-dones, Caserio has likely moved closer to the hot seat. Passing on a quarterback — potentially a former Heisman winner in Young, as the Panthers have been more closely linked to Stroud as of late — in this spot will inject more risk into Caserio’s situation.

Anderson has recorded 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons; ESPN’s Scouts Inc. grades the two-time Bronko Nagurski trophy recipient as the second-best prospect in this year’s draft. Anderson sits between Young and Stroud on that list, further illustrating the risk the Texans would take by going with the acclaimed edge rusher. Both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s most recent mock drafts have Houston taking Young at 2.

Holding the No. 6 pick, the Lions may be sitting a bit low for Anderson, who would obviously make for an intriguing pass rusher on an Aidan Hutchinson-anchored defensive line. Three quarterbacks are expected to be taken in the top five, though Richardson and Levis’ statuses are more difficult to peg compared to Stroud and Young’s. Anderson’s availability could depend on where the Cardinals end up — should they trade out of No. 3 overall — and how the Seahawks proceed at 5. Even if all four top QBs go in the top five, it would still leave one slot available for Anderson, whom both McShay and Kiper have as the first non-passer off the board. The Bears are eyeing pass-rushing help, but Anderson will probably be out of their reach at No. 9.

Breakdown Of Top 2023 QB Draft Prospects

April 2nd, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

After last year’s draft, which saw only one quarterback taken in the first two rounds, this year’s draft class boasts a bit more top talent at the NFL’s signature position. The group’s superior personnel has already created a small amount of chaos atop the draft order with Carolina trading into the No. 1 overall pick. With three of the teams drafting at the top of the first round expected to have a need for a new quarterback, and several others having the option to trade up for one, there is a consensus that four quarterbacks should hear their names called on the night of April 27.

Teams interested in a new passer will have their choice between whoever is left of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis. Below, we’ll explore the benefits offered by each young quarterback and provide some reasoning as to why they may or may not hear their names called first.

Bryce Young

Not only was Young the best recruit in his state or at his position coming out of high school, the young athlete out of Mater Dei (California) was rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2020, according to 247sports.com. He committed to nearby USC with two years left of high school play but flipped his commitment to Alabama at the beginning of his senior year.

Young played sparingly as a freshman in Tuscaloosa, backing up junior starter Mac Jones. With Jones having departed for the NFL, Young took over the Crimson Tide offense as a sophomore. He took the college football world by storm in 2021, completing 66.91% of his passes for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns while only throwing seven interceptions. He took Alabama to the title game, falling to Georgia but stoking early perceptions of himself as a future No. 1 overall draft pick. In 2022, Young continued to impress despite the loss of several top receivers, two to the first two rounds of the previous year’s draft. He completed 64.47% of his passes for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Young came into college as the nation’s top dual-threat passer but never developed as much of a rusher at Alabama. Instead, he utilized his versatility to be an effective passer on the run. Young’s eyes and mind work fast through progressions and help him to anticipate throwing lanes at an elite level. He’s adapted to his smaller size in terms of vision, but he requires his lower body to make strong throws. Teams don’t seem to worry about his lack of size as much as his durability. In a league that’s already seen success from a smaller quarterback in Kyler Murray, Young is expected to become a starting quarterback at the NFL level before long.

C.J. Stroud

Not far from Young in the southern California area, Stroud came out of the same class out of Rancho Cucamonga (California). Not quite as touted as Young, Stroud still boasted five stars as the nation’s second-best pro-style quarterback, according to 247. He made his decision late in the process but enrolled early shortly after committing to Ohio State.

Stroud also sat his true freshman season, redshirting behind starter Justin Fields. He was easily as productive as Young in their first years starting. In 2021, Stroud completed 71.88% of his passes for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns while only tossing six interceptions. Last year, Stroud, too, saw a bit of a drop-off in production, losing two receivers in the first round, but still impressed while completing 66.32% of his passes for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Stroud seems to be the most prototypical of the four options. His size, strength, and athleticism all signify a routine pro quarterback. His size gives him an ideally strong platform from which to throw and allows him to layer balls into short and intermediate levels over lineman and backers. The size does limit his agility, making him slow out of breaks and inaccurate when throwing on the run. His biggest strength, though, is his pure passing ability. He throws a strong, tight ball in a smooth motion, resulting in passes that receivers love to catch. His traditional quarterback makeup could be what makes him so attractive to a team like the Panthers at No. 1.

Anthony Richardson

Richardson is far and away the wild card of this group. A consensus four-star, dual-threat quarterback out of Eastside (Florida), Richardson stayed home in Gainesville for college after some back-and-forth on his commitment to the Gators.

Richardson is the least experienced of the four top options at quarterback. Richardson redshirted behind Kyle Trask as a freshman and sat behind Emory Jones as a sophomore. It wasn’t until last year that Richardson found himself starting behind center. Unlike the unquestionable success of Young and Stroud, Richardson’s results were hardly as impressive. Last season, Richardson completed 53.82% of his passes for 2,529 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions. He did display a stronger rushing ability than the above two, racking up 654 yards on 103 rushing attempts and tacking on nine scores with his legs. As a starter for the Gators, Richardson ended college with a 6-7 record.

Despite the seemingly mediocre production, Richardson has skyrocketed up draft boards as pundits have fallen in love with his potential. Richardson has a large frame, similar to Stroud, but boasts an athleticism that makes it much more dangerous. His size and burst make him reminiscent of a young Cam Newton with the ball in his hands. Richardson has a rocket for an arm, completing easy throws with only a flick of the wrist. The physical frame and abilities are there in a raw form, but much molding is necessary. He’s extremely inconsistent in his decision-making and accuracy, resulting in dangerous passes into a crowd and misses that never stand a chance of hitting their targets.

This is a common high-risk, high-reward situation with drafting quarterbacks. Richardson could develop into an All-Pro or flame out, unable to make the most of his abilities.

Will Levis

Levis is another curious prospect whose production doesn’t quite match his hype as a top draft pick. A three-star prospect leaving Xavier (Connecticut), Levis committed to Penn State as part of the 2018 recruiting class. After redshirting as a freshman, Levis sat for two years behind Sean Clifford before transferring to Kentucky.

Levis took over as an immediate starter in Lexington and won 10 games for the Wildcats in 2021, completing 66.01% of his passes for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns while tossing 13 interceptions. Levis also displayed an ability to run the ball that year, producing 376 yards and nine touchdowns. When Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali departed for the NFL, Levis’s production suffered as a result. In 2022, injuries and the loss of his top targets led to a down year in which he completed 65.37% of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, all without displaying the rushing ability of prior years.

Like Richardson, Levis boasts the size, arm strength, and athleticism that make him an extremely attractive prospect on paper. There are latent abilities available within Levis, but a lack of sound technique and procedure hold Levis back from his full potential. He can throw strong balls through tight windows but also struggles with consistent accuracy. He is physical and tough but needs that toughness when standing too long in the pocket. There are strong tools to utilize at the NFL level, but it will likely take time and a good coach preaching strong technique in order for Levis to become a strong starter at the next level. Teams want him to be the next Josh Allen, but he has a way to go in order to get there.

There we have it: two strong options who seem ready to start in Week 1 and two developmental projects who could turn into stars in the right system. Which team needs which quarterback the most? Tell us in the comments who you’d want your team to take a chance on.

Latest On Panthers’ QB Draft Plans

April 1st, 2023 at 11:50am CST by Ely Allen

When the Panthers sent a haul over to Chicago for the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023, many came to the conclusion that Carolina would be taking the obvious route and drafting a quarterback. While Alabama quarterback prospect Bryce Young had been widely considered the favorite to be the first quarterback off the board for some time, the Panthers’ move almost immediately had eyes turned towards Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. So, which rookie will end up rocking the Panther blue and silver behind center next year?

Many view the Panthers’ actions as a dedicated attempt at a smokescreen. While the organization has dedicated significant resources into the research of all the draft’s top quarterback prospects, many are still very much convinced that Stroud is the pick, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Head coach Frank Reich and company, though, have been adamant that they are considering each of the draft’s top four prospects equally. Reich claims to have learned his lessons from his time in Philadelphia, when the Eagles selected Carson Wentz second overall. He preaches patience, stressing that the organization has time. He doesn’t want the team to fall in love too fast and abandon the process.

This has led to a cross-country business trip for many of the Panthers’ decision makers. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, Carolina staffers embarked on a Week of Quarterbacks attended by Reich, general manager Scott Fitterer, assistant general manager Dan Morgan, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell, and vice president of football administration Samir Suleiman. The first two visits, in Columbus and Tuscaloosa, even included owners Dave Tepper and Nicole Tepper. The group started at Ohio State with Stroud, went to Alabama for Young, traveled to Kentucky for Will Levis, and took a short break at the owners’ meetings before heading down to Gainesville for Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Each visit entailed a steak dinner with the prospect, a meeting with the quarterbacks’ head coaches, and a workout at their respective pro days.

Although the evaluation appears to be a group project of sorts, Fitterer asserts that each staffer is holding their cards close to the vest. He wants each of them to come to their own conclusions with no biases and, a week or so before the fateful date later this month, they will get together to conclude the process of making a decision.

While the general perception of their draft board hasn’t really changed, Fitterer provided some analyses of the first three quarterbacks they saw. He claimed Levis “had the strongest arm of the group.” He praised Stroud’s fluidity and was pleasantly surprised by Young, saying that the diminutive passer “had a little bit better arm than (they) thought,” in terms of both strength and accuracy. He praised Young’s ability to adapt to his size, asserting that a lifetime of football at that size has contributed to an effective accommodation and compensation.

Despite all the evaluations and field trips, when Person put together a seven-round mock draft for the team yesterday, Stroud remained the pick. Person was seemingly tempted to rock the boat and make the swap for Young, amid buzz he had heard at the owners’ meetings, but regardless, Stroud appears to remain the guy. Not only does his accuracy rival that of Young’s, but Stroud has a more ideal frame than Young, which seems to be attractive to the organization. Stroud’s size contributes to his strength and durability but doesn’t hinder his fluidity or athleticism out of the pocket.

The Panthers are trying to convince the world that they haven’t already made up their minds, and they’re spending a lot of money to do it. Overall, the consensus hasn’t changed. Most in league circles continue to believe that Stroud’s name will be the first one called on April 27.

Draft Rumors: Commanders, Texans, Bears, Titans, Panthers, Raiders, Falcons

March 28th, 2023 at 2:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reported as a team not interested in Lamar Jackson, the Commanders are indeed going in another direction at quarterback. Ron Rivera confirmed Tuesday his team will not pursue the dual-threat superstar and, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala, never considered doing so (Twitter link).

“It was something we feel didn’t suit what we want to do,” Rivera said. “We know he’s a tremendous player. I just didn’t think that was the direction we wanted to go.”

Washington, however, will likely be hosting other quarterbacks during the pre-draft process. The team will not rule out taking a QB in Round 1, Rivera said Tuesday (Twitter link). The Commanders hold the No. 16 overall pick; they will almost definitely need to complete a vault up the draft board to land one of the top four QBs. The Panthers will take a quarterback first overall, while the Texans, Colts, Seahawks, Raiders, Falcons and Titans — each a QB suitor or a team that would make sense as such — sit ahead of them. The Commanders passed on trading up for Justin Fields or Mac Jones two years ago and had Carson Wentz in place in 2022, tabling draft matters at the position.

Here is the latest from the draft circuit:

The Texans have already brought in Will Levis and Anthony Richardson for pre-draft visits, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Houston will also host Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud on “30” visits soon. On track to draft a first-round quarterback for the first time since Deshaun Watson in 2017, the Texans should be expected to consider the top four options. Their Week 18 win in Indianapolis, however, allowed the Bears to leapfrog them for the draft’s top slot. The Panthers now hold that pick and will have first dibs on this year’s QB crop.
Before making their trade with the Panthers, the Bears discussed trading back with the Texans — as part of a multi-trade effort to accumulate picks — Ryan Poles said recently (via NBC Sports’ Peter King). That scenario would have had the Bears trading from No. 1 to 2 to 9, putting the Texans at first overall and the Panthers at No. 2, but SI.com’s Albert Breer notes negotiations with the Texans dragged while Panthers talks accelerated. Poles said his relationship with Panthers GM Scott Fitterer, dating back to duo’s days as scouts, helped the process. Giving Fields a chance to grow with a new regime, the Bears now hold the No. 9 overall pick this year.
At least five teams will meet with Richardson before the draft. The Panthers, Colts, Raiders, Falcons and Titans will get together with the Florida-developed passer, Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com tweets. Each team holds a top-11 pick, and it can be considered a lock reps from each will be on-hand at Richardson’s pro day Thursday in Gainesville.
Titans GM Ran Carthon, HC Mike Vrabel and assistant GM Chad Brinker were among the seven Tennessee staffers at Stroud’s pro day last week, The Athletic’s John Rexrode notes (subscription required). The Panthers topped that, sending a whopping 14 staffers to Columbus for Stroud’s throwing event. Stroud met with the Panthers, Raiders, Seahawks and Titans, Breer adds. Carthon and Vrabel, however, were also at Levis’ pro day last week, Breer tweets. Pete Carroll and John Schneider went to Kentucky to represent the Seahawks for that event, too. Carthon also attended Young’s pro day. While the new Tennessee GM gave some support for four-year Titans starter Ryan Tannehill, it was far from a full-fledged endorsement.
Josh McDaniels said the Raiders are open to taking a QB at No. 7 overall, despite signing Jimmy Garoppolo, and The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes he and GM Dave Ziegler observed Stroud and Young’s pro days. In addition to the Raiders meeting with Levis before his pro day, Tafur adds the Kentucky QB will visit Las Vegas soon. McDaniels did not rule out the Raiders adding a veteran backup as well; Jarrett Stidham left for a two-year, $10MM Broncos deal. The team’s presence at pro days also could serve as a way to drive up trade interest in the No. 7 pick.

Latest On Panthers’ Plans For No. 1 Pick

March 25th, 2023 at 12:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers are likely keeping the No. 1 pick and they’re likely using that selection on a signal-caller. Beyond that, their plan is up in the air. Naturally, the organization is doing their due diligence on the draft’s top quarterback prospects.

The organization had dinner with Alabama QB Bryce Young earlier this week, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). Kentucky QB Will Levis also dined with a Panthers contingent that included owners David and Nicole Tepper, general manager Scott Fitterer, head coach Frank Reich, assistant GM Dan Morgan, VP Samir Suleiman, and coaches Jim Caldwell, Thomas Brown, and Josh McCown, per Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (on Twitter). And, unsurprisingly, the Panthers will use one of their 30 prospect visits on Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter.

According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, several team executives believe Tepper is leaning towards Young. However, if the decision was up to several coaches, Stroud would likely be the pick at No. 1. While the front office will surely factor in all of these opinions before the draft, they’ll also be leaning on Caldwell, the team’s new senior assistant. A source said the former coach and QB guru has “a huge voice in this process” and “might have even more say than the head coach.” Ultimately, one rival official believes the decision will ultimately be made by Tepper.

“The owner is going to win that one if he falls in love with one of these kids,” the source told La Canfora. “He’s seen enough misevaluations of the position already.”

After the Panthers sacrificed a pair of firsts, a pair of seconds, and wideout D.J. Moore for the first-overall pick, some pundits have wondered if Carolina could look to flip the pick again. “No one is buying” that the Panthers would consider trading the pick, according to La Canfora, with the reporter citing Tepper’s desire “to get to this point.” Indeed, Fitterer confirmed to Joseph Person of The Athletic that the organization hasn’t received any calls about the top selection (Twitter link).

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