If you ask the Carolina Panthers about what they’re going to do atop the 2023 NFL draft, they’ll tell you that they’re not quite sure yet. But if you ask ESPN senior NFL reporter Jermey Fowler, who asked some sources around the league, you may get a different answer.
Fowler, in a fresh report from Thursday morning, said he recently “polled” numerous folks about who they believe the Panthers will use the No. 1 overall pick on. And here’s what he came away with:
The Carolina Panthers would have you believe they moved up from No. 9 to No. 1 in the draft without knowing which quarterback they’re taking. As you’d expect, some people don’t believe that, and a very unscientific poll of sources to whom I spoke at the meeting tells me most people believe they’re taking Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Stroud is currently viewed as Carolina’s favorite for a number of reasons—whether that be for his prototypical size, arm talent or the fact that the team was all over him during his pro day last week.
But, as general manager Scott Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich have said, the braintrust is far from a final decision—one that’ll also be heavily influenced by the unteachable intangibles of Bryce Young and the “it” factor of Anthony Richardson.