Panthers' 2023 Draft Class Ranked Near Bottom of NFL
The Carolina Panthers had the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and many around the league they made a big mistake taking Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud.
The former Ohio State QB was No. 1 on my board a year ago, but I had Young right behind him. His IQ, accuracy, and ability to make just about every throw are reasons why I still believe he can be an NFL franchise QB.
But it's not all about what the Panthers did at No. 1 a year ago. The rest of the draft class was very non-productive this past season.
Second round wide receiver Jonathan Mingo only caught 50% of passes thrown his way, third round pass rusher DJ Johnson barely touched the field, fourth round offensive lineman Chandler Zavala struggled mightily, and fifth round safety Jammie Robinson played primarily on special teams.
The lack of production led to the class being ranked 28th by NFL.com's Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter.
"The Panthers fielded a dozen rookies while searching for answers in their 2-15 campaign, with all five draft picks playing 10 or more games. Mingo had some moments in Year 1, but he and Young had trouble connecting downfield. Mingo's longest catch was 40 yards; he had zero TDs and was guilty of dropped passes and some mental mistakes.
"Johnson was trending in the right direction around midseason, starting three straight games, before an elbow injury sidelined him, and then he really didn't see much time after getting healthy. He's a raw, toolsy prospect who remains an unknown commodity heading into Year 2.
"Zavala was thrown into the OL mix, starting seven games, but he was overwhelmed as a pass blocker at times. It's difficult right now to view him as a major piece Carolina can depend on next season, as even Jensen appeared more game-ready down the stretch. Robinson and Cook each earned two starts in the secondary when injuries hit."
CBS Sports Excludes Bryce Young from 1st Round of 2023 Re-Draft
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