The Panthers made the first big move of draft season, trading up to the No. 1 pick in a deal with the Bears. Carolina is all but certain to take a quarterback with that pick and try to end the quarterback carousel since Cam Newton left the team ahead of the 2020 season.
While there are four quarterbacks in the discussion for that first pick, we might have already gotten a hint at Carolina’s preference. Josh McCown, who the Panthers hired as their new QB coach, studied Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud’s last game vs. Georgia with Josh Norris for Underdog Fantasy, and the former quarterback was impressed by what he saw.
“It’s a great tape, it’s really fun to watch and I’m really impressed with CJ Stroud,” he said. “I think the future’s bright for him.”
The 36-minute video features McCown breaking down select plays from the College Football Playoff semifinal, when Stroud totaled 348 yards and four touchdowns vs. the eventual national champion. Midway through the video, McCown gave a very positive NFL comparison for Stroud.
“As I watch him, I think his skill set is very similar to Joe Burrow,” he said. “Same size, same frame, same arm talent, moves the same way physically. So I like that.”
McCown argued that Stroud showed poise and maturity while playing a team that has an abundance of NFL talent on defense, all while performing on the biggest stage of his life. As a result, McCown appears to have an understanding of how he believes Stroud should succeed at the next level.
“I think his sweet spot is gonna be in the pocket operating,” he said. “In the NFL, when you get in the low red zone, you’ve got to have somebody who can move outside the pocket and make plays, the field is too tight, and seeing this on tape is encouraging from him.”
McCown also studied tape from Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Kentucky quarterback Will Levis while with Underdog Fantasy, before he joined new Panthers head coach Frank Reich’s staff. However, it appears that he was most impressed by Stroud’s tape.
“Maybe Bryce Young right now is in the lead, but CJ Stroud may close the gap,” he said at the time. “I think you’ll see him right up there beside Bryce Young.”
