The 2023 NFL Draft was expected to be chaotic, and especially early on, it delivered. The draft certainly didn’t start with an overly shocking selection, but the madness that ensued was so much fun for NFL fans all around the world.
A lot of people like to talk about “grades” for picks and players right after the draft is over, but the reality is, every team is probably excited — to a degree — about how things went down. You didn’t see many upset war rooms on the ESPN or NFL Network broadcasts. These teams feel like they all got better, no matter if you had two of the first three picks like the Texans or if you didn’t pick until the late third round like the 49ers.
Let’s take a look at every team’s draft in the order in which their first picks came off the board, and make some arbitrary grades and give some analysis for each pick.
2023 NFL Draft: Grades, analysis for all 32 teams
Carolina Panthers
- 1. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
- 39. Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
- 80. DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon
- 114. Chandler Zavala, OL, North Carolina State
- 145. Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
Well, the Carolina Panthers made some of the most noise in this draft long before it ever happened, didn’t they? They traded up into the number one overall slot after originally holding the ninth pick, and in a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears, they set themselves up for the future.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young enters the fray in Carolina as their new franchise quarterback. He’s packaged completely different from the last Heisman winning no. 1 overall pick to play for Carolina (Cam Newton) but that doesn’t matter. This entire team is taking on a new complexion with Frank Reich, Ejiro Evero, and a new coaching staff.
Joining Young in this new-look Panthers offense is Jonathan Mingo, the playmaker out of Ole Miss.
Jonathan Mingo could be the next BEAST WR from Ole Miss joining the likes of DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown. At 6’2 he ran a 4.4 40 yard dash and looked like a man amongst boys at times dunking on DBs in college. Another target for Bryce Young. Carolina has had a PHENOMENAL off-season
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 29, 2023
Mingo brings so much to the table in terms of his size, athletic profile, and his ability to help out a quarterback by just creating offense from anywhere on the field.
DJ Johnson was a surprise pick in round three but new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero obviously sold a compelling vision for him off the edge opposite Brian Burns.
Chandler Zavala and Jammie Robinson round out a really solid class for the Panthers, who have truly had an outstanding, A+ offseason.
Grade: A