The Carolina Panthers will be domino No. 1 in a particularly fateful effect set to take place on the night of April 27. But it seems like domino No. 2 isn’t too concerned about how No. 1 may fall.
On Monday, new Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke to reporters at the Annual League Meetings from Phoenix, Ariz. When asked about his reaction to the Panthers jumping his team in the 2023 draft order, Ryans no-sold the move.
“My reaction was, hey, they’re making a move to go get their guy,” he said simply. “That’s the reaction I had.”
Carolina made the leap from No. 9 to No. 1 two weeks ago, shipping off a substantial package of draft capital and wideout DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears to get their pick of the litter at the quarterback position. That, of course, affects the passer-needy Texans—who sit at the second spot of the queue.
Houston, however, hasn’t given off the slightest stench of desperation nor the slightest hint of their plans since. While the Panthers sent a who’s who of shot callers to the pro days for top prospects C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young last week, the Texans didn’t even bother to get Ryans nor general manager Nick Caserio to either.
Ryans then added that he and his braintrust will make the best decision for the Texans, regardless of what happens ahead of them with those proactive Panthers.
“It was something that we can’t control, so when the Panthers moved up, we already had Chicago in front of us,” he said. “We couldn’t control – we’re still at No. 2, so nothing has changed from that perspective. At the end of the day, we have to pick where we are, land we’ll make the best pick for our organization when that time comes. We don’t worry about things that are outside of our control. We can’t control what the Panthers are doing. We can’t control who they’ll pick, and we’re not concerning ourselves, we’re not losing sleep over what the Panthers will do at No. 1.”
So, luckily for Ryans and company, they should be well rested for what’ll assuredly be a wild Thursday night in Kansas City exactly one month from now.
