Things are looking up for the Carolina Panthers after securing the best player in the entire 2023 NFL draft, right? Well . . . not so fast.
Around the NFL Podcast co-host Dan Hanzus updated his power rankings following this weekend’s annual calling of names. And despite finally getting their quarterback, Carolina falls from No. 18 to No. 25 on the list.
The Panthers finally got their man. After several years in the QB wilderness that featured multiple highly publicized swings and misses, Carolina got the fresh start it wanted with Bryce Young. Concerns about the size and durability of the Alabama star are not to be dismissed, but there is plenty of reason to believe Carolina just imported a franchise-shifting player at the game’s most important position with the No. 1 overall pick. Young won’t be able to do it alone, of course. The Panthers hope they can fill the hole left by D.J. Moore (sent to Chicago in the trade that ultimately allowed them to land Young) with Ole Miss wideout Jonathan Mingo, selected with the eighth pick of the second round. If Young can make quick strides as a rookie, there’s no reason why the Panthers can’t contend in the wide-open NFC South.
That seven-spot drop positions the Panthers as the third-highest NFC South team in the rankings. They’re currently bested by the New Orleans Saints (No. 18) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 23), but do sit above the reigning division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 29).
But, we’re still in the first week of May. There’s plenty of football, in fact, there’s all the football left to be played.
