Panthers Shift Focus to 39th Pick

Carolina gets a headstart on their plan for the second round of the draft.

Schuyler Callihan | Apr 26, 2023

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Carolina Panthers

After weeks of discussion, the Panthers have made up their minds in regard to who they will take with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They aren't going to reveal who that player is, but Reich and Fitterer had "the talk" on Monday and there is a consensus.

With that decision already made, this gives the Panthers a headstart on what they want to do with their second-round pick which is at No. 39. It's a nice luxury to have. They don't have to wait several picks to see who is still on the board for them at No. 9, make the pick, and then dive deeper into 39. Those talks have already begun.

"A lot of time [has been spent on 39]," Reich said on Tuesday. "And again, I just take my hat off to Scott [Fitterer] and his staff and how that process has gone. We've had several draft meetings with the coaches and more recently had them in there with Scott kind of running the meetings and getting the coaches' final opinion. The scouts have already done 90% of the work but the coaches come in and we give our evaluation, we melt it together with what the scouts have done, we start wrapping our arm around that 39th pick and that 93rd pick and about all the scenarios - up, down, stay there. What if he's there? What if he's not there? How does this guy fit into the system? They've been dynamic discussions and I think we're prepared for those scenarios."

With there being over 50 players going off the board between their second and third picks of the draft, there is a chance that the Panthers will trade out of No. 39 to get an extra pick or two in return. Scott Fitterer has been known to be patient and let the board fall to them rather than reaching for a prospect. If there's a guy that they love still on the board, they'll make the pick. If they just really like someone, expect a move down the board.

Some names that might be of interest?

WR Josh Downs (North Carolina)

WR Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)

TE Darnell Washington (Georgia)

TE Sam LaPorta (Iowa)

DE BJ Ojulari (LSU)

DE Keion White (Georgia Tech)

DE Felix Anuzike-Udomah (Kansas State)

DE Will McDonald IV (Iowa State)

LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)

LB Trenton Simpson (Clemson)

LB Drew Sanders (Arkansas)