The 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri is more than a month away. There are bound to be selections in the first round that no one expected. The Carolina Panthers have traded up from the 9th pick overall with the Chicago Bears to receive the first pick overall.
Let’s take a look at five prospects that the Panthers could select with the first pick in the draft.
Carolina Panthers option no. 5: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The most likely player selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Despite Young not participating in the NFL Combine his stock is still sky-high. Young’s measurements of 5’10 204 pounds may scare off some interested teams but are likely not enough for Young to fall out of the top 2 picks.
The popular theory is that the Alabama quarterback, who threw for 32 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 2022, would be the first pick overall. Now with the Carolina Panthers taking the first pick overall, it could be a number of quarterbacks (or other prospects).
Young is an efficient and accurate quarterback, a leader, and will very likely be a winner in the NFL. NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has frequently compared Young to current Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It doesn’t get much better than having yourself compared to a two-time Super Bowl Champion and MVP.
There are a number of options for the Carolina Panthers to select on Thursday night next month but it would not be a surprise to see Young get the first call.