Apparently, every high-ranking member of the Carolina Panthers loves every high-ranking quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft. But which prospect does a high-ranking franchise legend have a crush on?
On Friday, former linebacker and current Panthers radio voice Luke Kuechly joined The Morning Shift on 92.2 The Game. Being that the show is based in Atlanta—hosts Tiffany Blackmon, Mike Johnson and Beau Morgan asked the future Hall of Famer about the outlook in the fluctuating NFC South.
And while each of the team’s quarterback situations differ from 2022, he said he does like what his Panthers have done under center thus far.
“Alright, say you do draft a quarterback with that first overall pick—we got a great coach there with [Josh] McCown,” Kuechly stated. “He’s a stud. He played the game, obviously. Coach [Frank] Reich’s a quarterback, played in a league a long time. So you’ve got two guys in various age groups that played the game at a high level for a long time. And then you go get Andy Dalton.
“And when I think about Andy, I think about the impact Derek Anderson had on Cam [Newton] when Cam first got here. DA was a stud, played a long time, was a Pro Bowler—but understands like, ‘Hey, I have an opportunity to help this guy out and help this guy learn.’
“And it’s a great dynamic. Andy still can play and he’s a great dude. So regardless of what his situation is—whether he’s our starter for the whole year or he’s there to help a guy out—I think it’s just a really good situation.”
In addition to acquiring 2023’s No. 1 overall pick, Carolina signed Dalton to a two-year, $10 million deal. The 35-year-old and soon-to-be 13-year veteran is likely expected to serve as a backup and mentor to whomever the Panthers take atop the draft.
The contenders for the honor include Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson—who reminds him of an old friend.
“Oh my gosh, I’m such a partial Cam guy,” he said when asked which of the four prospects he’s gravitating toward. “So when I look at Richardson, he just makes me so excited. ‘Cause I played with Cam and saw how much fun we had with him and what he can do.
“But you know what? Honestly, truthfully—I haven’t taken a deep dive at these guys yet. I’m sure there’s one that we have our eyes on. They’ve all had production. You look at Bryce [Young] and [C.J.] Stroud—ultra productive in college. And then you look at Levis and Richardson with super-high ceilings, big, strong, athletic, can run, can throw it everywhere. Maybe not as many starts as some of the other guys, but still fun guys to watch.
“I think there’s two different schools of thought and they gotta figure out what they wanna do over in that building.”
The Panthers will have the next five weeks or so to figure out exactly that.
