In less than three weeks, the Carolina Panthers will definitively answer the question so many have been scrambling to answer. But until then, let’s enjoy the scrambling while it’s still around.
Here are the latest projections for the Panthers’ No. 1 overall pick.
Touchdown Wire: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Word is that a whole lot of people in the Panthers’ organization, starting with owner David Tepper, are big Bryce Young fans, and it’s not hard to imagine why. But I think Stroud better fits new head coach Frank Reich’s preferred profile of the quarterback with some second-reaction ability who wins primarily from the pocket with movement and phenomenal accuracy.
ESPN: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
We know the Panthers are drafting a quarterback — they have been searching for a long-term fix and sent a big bag of assets to Chicago to jump up here in order to find it — but we still don’t know for sure which quarterback they want. We might not have the answer until the pick is announced, and I’m not sure Carolina even knows just yet. I projected Alabama’s Bryce Young here in my last mock draft, but I’m going with Stroud this time around. It could really go either way.
NFL.com: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud is an accurate pocket passer (with some mobility when needed) who ticks all of the boxes for Panthers coach Frank Reich.
Pro Football Focus: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
This pick is a foregone conclusion at this point after Panthers quarterbacks coordinator Josh McCown told Stroud at his pro day that they’ll reconvene on a basketball court in Charlotte. Carolina gets its franchise quarterback (hopefully).
CBS Sports: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Young came in at 5-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine and didn’t take part in the drills, but had a great Pro Day several weeks later. The word on the street is that the Panthers are higher on C.J. Stroud than Young, but there’s still two-plus weeks to go until we all know for certain. New coach Frank Reich has talked about the importance of size at the position, but Young is the most NFL-read quarterback on the board.
Draft Network: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Panthers have needed stability at the quarterback position for years now. This year, they decided it was so important that they traded up to the No. 1 overall pick. C.J. Stroud has been the favorite (or co-favorite) to be the first player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft since the Panthers moved up, and for good reason. If you look back at his track record, new head coach Frank Reich likes his big, tall, pocket-passing quarterbacks. That’s what Stroud is, and that’s why Carolina takes him first overall.
