At this point in the 2023 NFL Draft process, it’d probably be a shock if the Carolina Panthers didn’t take C.J. Stroud at No. 1 overall.
They already sent an absurd number of representatives to Ohio State’s Pro Day — including David Tepper and his wife Nicole, GM Scott Fitterer, and head coach Frank Reich. Sure, they could’ve been there to watch other NFL talent like Paris Johnson Jr., but the easy assumption is that Stroud was the main attraction.
One of the other Panthers reps on hand was QB coach Josh McCown. And after Stroud finished working out, McCown was strangely super friendly with a player who isn’t officially on Carolina’s roster yet.
If I didn’t know any better from this video via Shawn Dunagan of WKYC in Cleveland, it seems like the Panthers have made up their mind to make Stroud the future of their franchise:
#OhioState QB C.J. Stroud meets with #Panthers contingent after his Pro Day. QB Coach Josh McCown says "You spun it well, bro, that was great. That was awesome.
Then the two proceed to schedule a game of horse, Stroud saying "I'm gonna take his money."
📹: @shawndunagan pic.twitter.com/UIWFY1DvUe
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) March 22, 2023
Hmm. What does McCown say there exactly? That he’s going to golf with Stroud? That they’ll have to find a course together? The entire exchange isn’t clear. All that’s apparent is Stroud is already super friendly with the Panthers’ brain trust — which means a lot in late March.
NFL fans connected the dots about Stroud and McCown’s friendliness to each other.
Last thing McCown says… “we’ll see when you get to Charlotte” https://t.co/ooQiAwgs7S
— Bradlee 🎙 ALL_AQCESS 💎 (@BradMLee) March 23, 2023
This is beautiful and exactly what I’ve been missing from this franchise for the past 4 years https://t.co/7XrtIfrCrm
— Hampton Cook (@hamptoncook) March 23, 2023
"When you move to Charlotte"
Looks like Josh McCown is getting his first talking to about not talking in front of cameras and the Panthers are taking C.J. Stroud.
What a time to be alive. https://t.co/lCL3Exw9Th
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) March 22, 2023
“Maybe when you live in Charlotte” https://t.co/BwJzJARf29 pic.twitter.com/GB0LqMYDUA
— CROCKPOT🤴🏾 (@eric_crocker) March 22, 2023
“We’ll find a court in Charlotte..” https://t.co/j155s1eszV pic.twitter.com/hUrv6q4spX
— Ace Boogie🤟🏼 (@rooneydr) March 22, 2023
Oh yeah, this is glorious lol. https://t.co/0AzTa0whD0
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) March 22, 2023
Is Stroud the Panthers pick?
“When you live in Charlotte…” https://t.co/wwTtIUHPnn
— Josh Sanders (he/him) (@JoshSandersTV) March 22, 2023
So much for the idea of Carolina bluffing the Texans into trading up… https://t.co/FZGbQ777Vt
— Neer Ray (@NeerRayNFL) March 22, 2023
“Maybe when you live in Charlotte…”. Stroud to Carolina confirmed https://t.co/oDOO3x49S0 pic.twitter.com/v2DRLmQ7Hu
— Chris Lea – WRAL-TV (@ChrisLeaTV) March 22, 2023
