By any metric, the Panthers‘ acquisition of the No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL draft from the Bears Friday afternoon scans as a franchise turning point. It’s only the second time Carolina has had the first overall selection, after the franchise’s 2011 pick of quarterback Cam Newton.
Longtime Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, who was around for Carolina’s selection of Newton—and nearly half of the franchise’s 28 seasons in total—took to Twitter Friday afternoon to praise the move and its implications for a team that has been largely rudderless since 2015.
"My goodness. The Carolina Panthers are doing big things," he said in a brief video. "Everybody's surprised. Obviously you move up to the No. 1 pick. You have an offensive-minded coach, so obviously you wanna do some offensive-minded things."
Smith was referencing new coach Frank Reich, hired by the Panthers on Jan. 26 nearly three months after the Colts fired him.
To the five-time Pro Bowler, the trade signaled that Carolina intends to add a franchise building block.
“You don’t trade two first rounds [picks, two second round [picks], and a dynamic wide receiver like DJ Moore… to go get a [defensive] lineman or a [defensive] tackle,” Smith said. “Julius Peppers is not in this draft! So you gotta assume they’re trying to make big moves.”
