Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Anthony Rizzuti

Where do Panthers stand in power rankings heading into Week 1?

Buy Panthers Tickets

Where do Frank Reich, Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers begin in the NFL’s 2023 landscape?

Let’s take a look at where they sit across the pre-Week 1 power rankings:

Touchdown Wire

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Author: Jarrett Bailey

Rank: 21

Take: “The Panthers are one of my biggest fallers after the preseason. Initially, they were my surprise pick to win the NFC South. However, after the soiling themselves throughout the preseason, it looks like there will be more growing pains than initially expected. Plus, their receivers don’t blow anyone away and the offensive line is a real question mark. Bryce Young can only get lawn darted so many times before he sustains an injury. The Panthers will be fun to keep an eye on, but I think this is a team to watch for in 2024 rather than 2023.”

USA TODAY

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Author: Nate Davis

Rank: 27

Take: “They’ve got the first quarterback (Bryce Young) taken in the 2023 draft, but questions remain as to whether they can effectively protect him … or if they’ll have Pro Bowl OLB Brian Burns available as he angles for a new contract.”

NFL.com

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Author: Eric Edholm

Rank: 25

Take: “There’s bubbling support for the Panthers as potential NFC South champs, and … sure, why not? Heck, they made a valiant run at it last season after firing their coach, shipping their star running back away in a trade and rolling with Sam Darnold and PJ Walker under center instead of the Week 1 QB, who was released in December. With No. 1 pick Bryce Young, a defense offering upside and new coach Frank Reich in place, one might argue their chances can’t be dismissed. That’s fair. But on cutdown day, Carolina jettisoned many players from the Matt Rhule regime, opting for youth at multiple spots. The excitement over Young is tangible, but this season’s goals are more about Young’s development, I suspect, than the Panthers’ final win percentage.”

Pro Football Talk

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Author: Mike Florio

Rank: 25

Take: “How long will it take Bryce Young to adapt to the NFL game?”

CBS Sports

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Author: Pete Prisco

Rank: 25

Take: “With Bryce Young in at quarterback, they will have to take some lumps. He’s good, but that line is a question mark and it seemed to impact him in the preseason.”

Yahoo Sports

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Author: Frank Schwab

Rank: 25

Take: “Receiver Jonathan Mingo is going to be a draft steal for the Panthers. The early second-round pick has the size-speed combo to make an immediate impact. It wouldn’t surprise me if he leads the Panthers’ unimpressive receiver room by the end of his rookie season.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.