Hey, Carolina Panthers! Now that you’ve gotten your franchise quarterback, what are you gonna do next?
According to the guy who writes the checks, they’re going to Defensiveland!
On Thursday night, following his team’s selection of Bryce Young atop the 2023 NFL draft, owner David Tepper enacted a non-hostile takeover of the post-pick press conference. Amongst his many words were some on what general manager Scott Fitterer and company are possibly looking for in Friday’s proceedings.
“And there’s no sure thing here,” Tepper said about the choice of Young. “And we thought this guy has the best probability of winning us Super Bowls. The way he throws the ball, the way he’s a point guard, how you can use the different players on the field, how you might not have to have as many elite receivers because he’s a point guard, right? So he distributes the ball to people with routes.
“So you can save some money there. We can save money other places because of him and put that money in the defensive side of the ball.”
Now, of course, the literal money could eventually be going into potential franchise pillars in pass rusher Brian Burns, lineman Derrick Brown and/or cornerback Jaycee Horn at respective points. Burns is up for a long-term extension this offseason, Brown currently has a fifth-year option pending and Horn could develop into the type of shutdown defender every team covets.
But there’s also some money that goes into draft picks, which the Panthers have two of heading into the second and third rounds. And as stated by Fitterer a week and a half ago, they’ll certainly have their eye on an edge partner for Burns this weekend.
