Stay Put at 33 or Trade Back?

What should Carolina do with their first available pick in 2024?

Carolina will have to wait until Friday, April 26th to make their first NFL draft selection while most teams will draft their franchise's future the day before. Thankfully for the Panthers, they won't have to wait long on Friday. Due to last March's trade with the Chicago Bears, Carolina will send the number one overall pick to the Windy City and their first pick of the 2024 draft will be #33 overall, the first pick in the second round. 

Carolina also owns their third round pick (#65) and fourth round pick, fifth round picks from San Francisco and Tennessee, and a sixth round pick from Arizona.

While the Panthers are more likely to find a top end talent at 33 than later in the draft, the prudent move would be to trade down and accrue assets. 

If you watched the Panthers in 2023, you're aware that the team lacks talent across the board. The offensive line is patchy, the skill positions need upgrades, and all three levels of the defense could use a boost. The cupboard is bare on Mint Street, and drafting young, cost-controlled talent is the best way to refill it. 

Trading down isn't a sexy move and will draw ire from a rash of fans. However, long-term, it is absolutely best for the team. Carolina will need to patch the holes that the Bryce Young trade punctured in the team's roster somehow, and it starts on draft weekend. The 33rd overall pick is still valuable even though it's outside of the first round, so team's will definitely come calling if Carolina puts the selection up for sale. 

Positional Breakdown of Every Player Invited to the 2024 NFL Combine

Last season, the Arizona Cardinals traded the 33rd overall pick (which was actually the second pick in the second round due to the Dolphins forfeiting their first round draft pick) and the 81st overall pick to Tennessee for the 41st pick, the 72nd pick, and a 2024 third rounder. 

The key to that trade (and what I assume Carolina will look to acquire) is the third round pick in this year's draft. The Panthers' are far from competing for the NFC South crown and dancing with the big boys in 2024, so acquiring future picks to bolster the roster with young players when the team is closer to competing would be a smart move for the new front office. 

It boils down to the old quality vs. quantity argument. In an ideal world, a franchise would have both. A treasure trove of draft picks that all work out to play at a level worthy of the contract they receive. In my opinion, Carolina should desperately focus on the quantity this offseason. More bites at the apple when it comes to finding talent is necessary, and if that means trading down from #33 to take a few extra swings at second and third round talent, than so be it.  

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