The Panthers apparently have decided which quarterback they will choose with the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
New Carolina head coach Frank Reich told reporters Tuesday in a news conference that general manager Scott Fitterer entered his office Monday and asked him who he preferred to be the franchise’s signal-caller.
In the conversation between the two, Reich said the team’s preferred quarterback choice was “kind of like a proposal,” and Fitterer said yes to it.
“We have a consensus, and we are excited,” Reich said.
Since Carolina traded its No. 9 pick and the No. 61 pick in 2023, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago to secure the top pick, the motive behind the Panthers’ move seemed to be to select a quarterback.
Alabama QB Bryce Young is the favorite to be selected No. 1 by Carolina on Thursday. However, the Panthers met privately with Kentucky’s Will Levis, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.
In late March, reports surfaced that Carolina had narrowed its selection to Young and Stroud.
