With the #1 Pick in the 2023 Draft, the Carolina Panthers Select Violence

With the NFL Draft just days away, we’ve about exhausted the quarterback discussion. Bryce Young looks to be the selection, but is there a scenario where the Panthers stun the football world and take another player or even trade back?

Bryce Young was the early favorite among quarterbacks, but CJ Stroud gained some momentum as the combine approached and as we fretted over whether Young’s slight build could hold up in the NFL. Finally, Anthony Richardson leaped into the discussion at the NFL Combine. It was hard to not to be intrigued by a guy with only the highest RAS score (Relative Athletic Score) for a quarterback in combine history. For a fanbase who loved having a great athlete in Cam Newton, how could we not have eyes for Richardson?

As we have moved further from the combine and closer to the draft, pro days and team interviews have swayed public opinion regarding the top quarterbacks. Stroud kept a little momentum during the pro day cycle as photos circulated the internet of Panthers’ Head Coach Frank Reich beaming in the background watching Stroud throw. The interview process, however, has swung momentum back to Young, especially instead of news regarding Stroud’s perplexingly low S2 Score.

Over the past two weeks, it’s felt like the Panthers have settled on Bryce Young. So as we gather around Thursday night waiting for the Panthers to announce their selection, will it be Bryce Young, or could the Panthers surprise fans with either selecting CJ Stroud or trading back? Could the Panthers choose violence and select Anthony Richardson? I’m here for all of them, but I can’t lie, I would be intrigued to see how fans would react to anyone not named Bryce Young.

By Tony Dunn
Follow @Cat_Chronicles for the latest Panthers news and opinions from the fans’ perspective.