Bryce Young was chosen by the Carolina Panthers as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but some in the league believe they made a mistake by not selecting C.J. Stroud. While Stroud was ranked first on my board a year ago, Young’s intelligence, accuracy, and ability to make a variety of throws still make him a potential franchise quarterback in the NFL. However, the rest of the Panthers’ draft class was largely unproductive this past season, with only Jonathan Mingo, a second-round wide receiver, showing some promise. Mingo struggled to connect with Young downfield and had several dropped passes and mental errors. Third-round pass rusher DJ Johnson showed potential before an elbow injury sidelined him, while fourth-round offensive lineman Chandler Zavala struggled as a pass blocker. Fifth-round safety Jammie Robinson primarily played on special teams. As a result, the Panthers’ draft class was ranked 28th by NFL.com’s Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter. Despite this, all five draft picks played 10 or more games, with Mingo and Johnson showing glimpses of potential for the future.
