The Carolina Panthers bet the house to get their choice of any player atop the 2023 NFL draft. So, uh, that choice better be one of the best fits of the event.
On Monday, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks named his top team-player pairings from the weekend. Included on the list—at the very top, in fact—is quarterback Bryce Young landing in Carolina, a spot Brooks believes would be ideal for any rookie passer:
It is hard to imagine a young quarterback beginning their career in a better situation than what is awaiting Young in Carolina. The No. 1 overall pick will be surrounded by former NFL quarterbacks and veteran quarterback whisperers with significant experience developing the position. Frank Reich (head coach) and Josh McCown (quarterbacks coach) can share insight from their journeys as longtime NFL backups. At the same time, Jim Caldwell (senior offensive assistant) can tap into his experiences with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford to help Young quickly master the nuances of winning quarterback play. With an exceptional “think tank” sharing ideas with a creative offensive coordinator (Thomas Brown) who is well-versed in a quarterback-friendly system, the Panthers can design an offense that enables their new QB1 to feel comfortable from Day 1.
The Panthers’ staff includes three men who have been head coaches, three who are in line to become head coaches and two who have played under center at the highest pro level. So between that all-star staff and Young’s brilliant mind for the game, there’s a ton of brainpower over at 800 South Mint Street.
Let’s just hope, at least for Carolina’s sake, that they didn’t overthink what led them to Thursday night’s decision.
