It seems as though the Carolina Panthers picked off the apple of every team’s eye in the 2023 NFL draft—or at least the ones that needed a quarterback.
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings were interested in moving up for one passer and one passer only two weeks ago—University of Alabama star Bryce Young. But, uh, the price for Bryce was already met.
“They were making calls about moving up very high in the draft,” Pelissero said on Tuesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show. “But my understanding is that was for one player and that was Bryce Young, who ended up going No. 1, and so there went any possibility for Minnesota to go get him.”
The Vikings, who were positioned in the 23rd overall spot, would’ve had to make a heck of a jump to get to the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. Plus, that prospect probably went up in smoke a good week or two before the first overall selection was made by the Panthers—who had overwhelmingly decided upon Young as “their guy.”
In addition to Minnesota, the Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders were also reportedly eyeing Young ahead of the rest of the field. So, yes, that’d make at least four teams who had the new Carolina quarterback at the top of their boards.
