What to Expect From the Panthers' 2023 Rookie Class

A quick preview of the expectations for each Panthers rookie.

With rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp in the books, I thought now would be a good time to preview each of the Panthers' draft picks roles for the upcoming season.

QB Bryce Young

It won't take long for the No. 1 overall pick to make his NFL debut. Head coach Frank Reich hasn't declared Young the starter yet, but it's just a matter of when. Most believe he will be the guy under center for Week 1 against Atlanta with Andy Dalton serving as his backup. The Panthers' staff has had nothing but good things to say about Young since landing in Charlotte but just like every other rookie QB, he'll go through his fair share of bumps in the road. 

I don't expect Young to just come in and "light it up" but I do believe he's good enough to lead this team to a division crown as a rookie. 

WR Jonathan Mingo

Mingo may be the most interesting draft pick not named Bryce Young. He's freakishly athletic and has the skillset to be a featured receiver in this offense. 

Keeping Mingo in one spot would be a disservice to the rest of the team. I believe Carolina will take advantage of his versatility and move him all over the field. However, he'll probably see most of his reps out of the slot, learning behind one of the best to ever play that particular position, Adam Thielen.

I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of a 25-reception, 370-yard type of season with a couple touchdowns. Year two is where he'll make his leap.

OLB DJ Johnson

Johnson is going to be a bit of a project. They like his size, strength, and ability to stop the run. The front office believes he'll the pass rushing will eventually come but the primary focus for him is to set a hard edge and contain the run game. 

I know some have penciled him in as the starter but I'm not convinced that to be the case. A rotational role seems more likely for Johnson as a rookie. And to be honest, I'm not sure he'll be thrown into the starting lineup at all this season, assuming everyone stays healthy.  

OL Chandler Zavala

The starting left guard job is Brady Christensen's to lose entering training camp. But that doesn't mean Zavala won't make it tough on the coaching staff when they see how well he plays next to his former college teammate, Ickey Ekwonu. 

Zavala nursed a pec injury at the tail end of minicamp but Reich believes he'll be good to go for Spartanburg. Christensen will be the starter to begin the season but I sense Zavala will rip the job away from him in the back half of the schedule.

DB Jammie Robinson

I'm usually not high on day three picks but Jammie Robinson is an exception. This dude has serious potential and will find his way onto the field in some capacity this fall. Cornerback Donte Jackson told me a couple weeks back that he's one of his favorite players in the DB room.

"Jammie a pitbull. He's just football, man, and that type of stuff you just can't teach. He can be a difference-maker early; like a Tyrann Mathieu hybrid, for real."

He can play both safety spots, can play corner if needed, and can play the nickel as well. He'll be on the field more and more as the season goes along.

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