Inside The Panthers

Two Former Panthers Named Top 100 Picks of NFL Draft

Former Pitt Panthers Jordan Addison and Carter Warren represent some of the best picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Stephen Thompson

Two Former Panthers Named Top 100 Picks of NFL Draft
Two Former Panthers Named Top 100 Picks of NFL Draft /
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PITTSBURGH -- With the dust settled on the 2023 NFL Draft, ESPN Draft Analyst Matt Miller compiled a list of the top 100 picks and he included two former Pitt Panthers are among the best of their class. 

Jordan Addison was the first former Panther listed at No. 33. With Adam Thielen headed to the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota desperately needed a complement to superstar wideout Justin Jefferson and they got a Day 1 starter with the 23rd pick of the Draft in Addison. 

"When Adam Thielen wasn't brought back for the 2023 season, we knew the Vikings' WR2 role needed to be filled in the draft," Miller wrote. "And with only six selections when the draft began, it had to be early. Addison was my WR3 but top-ranked slot receiver. He'll step right in and contribute as a rookie."

Offensive tackle Carter Warren came next at No. 78. Miller believes the Jets took a risk, but a worthwhile one after the Steelers leapfrogged them in the first round to take the last of this year's top tier of left tackles. At pick 120, Warren exceeded Miller's pre-draft slot ranking of 159 and his fit in New York makes him an even bigger steal. 

"Warren represents a reach based on value, but the fourth-rounder could be in line to start in New York after the team missed out on the top-tier left tackles in the draft class," Miller said. "Left tackle was (and still is) the Jets' biggest need, and Warren was a four-year starter at Pitt. This could go down as one of the best picks of the entire draft if he gets a big opportunity with New York."

Six Panthers were selected in this year's draft, good for fifth-most nationally, and it isn't just quantity but quality. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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