Breaking down the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 NFL Draft class

In an offseason of complete overhaul for the Carolina Panthers’ could the 5 players selected by the team in the recent draft go someway to turning around a franchise that has not been in the postseason since 2017?

For fans of the team it seems that finally, the organisation has some semblance of professionalism once again, with Matt Rhule back amongst the college ranks where he belongs. Veteran NFL head coach Frank Reich is now leading the team supported by arguably one of the league’s best coaching staff. The team also improved across the board in free agency, with the likes of Miles Sanders, Hayden Hurst, & Vonn Bell all expected to be starters this season. 

But the main event was always going to be the NFL Draft and who the Panthers would select as the new face of the franchise. Would they select the best QB in the draft the outlier in Alabama’s Bryce Young, the most accurate passer in the draft in Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, or take a risk on Kentucky’s Will Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson?

Let’s take a look at the Panthers’ five selections and the potential impact on the team. 

Round One, Pick #1 – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

We saw in the final two weeks of the draft build up a real shift in momentum as to who would go first overall. Since the Panthers’ traded for the number 1 pick with the Chicago Bears most believed that Carolina made the move to select CJ Stroud who fit the mould perfectly of a Frank Reich quarterback. 

But despite being a total outlier (5’10 204lbs) Alabama’s Bryce Young was the best QB in this draft and one look at the 2021 Heisman Trophy winners film will tell you just that. Despite a down year for the Crimson Tide in 2022 where they finished 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl Young carried an offence lacking the weapons we’re used to seeing from a Nick Saban-led team. 

Now of course the size is a concern for Young, he measured in at the NFL combine at 5’10” 204lbs but his playing weight is probably closer to 195lbs making him far and away the smallest QB to have played the position. The player’s frame is more of an issue as opposed to his height as smaller QBs in recent memory such as Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray have been more thick set whereas Young is more slight in stature. 

However, for people questioning if the player can survive at the next level, it’s certainly worth noting Young played for two years in the SEC playing the best talent the collegiate ranks could offer. And more importantly for Panther fans, he offers hope something the franchise hasn’t had since drafting Cam Newton first overall back in 2011. 

Round Two, Pick #39 – Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

The best thing to do when drafting a rookie QB early in the first round is to immediately draft a WR to pair with your new rookie and that’s exactly what the Panthers’ did in the NFL draft in Kansas City. With it being a foregone conclusion that the team would take a QB in the first round what they would do in the second round would remain a mystery. 

With the likes of BJ Ojulari and Julius Brents still on the board the Panthers’ went for a player many had not expected to go this early selecting Ole Miss WR Jonathon Mingo with the 39^th overall pick. A look at Mingo’s measurables he has all the tools to succeed at the next level. In a draft class filled with smaller wide receivers, Mingo came in at 6’2” and 226lbs while running a 4.46s 40-yard dash. 

It’s no surprise with these measurements he has drawn comparisons to another former Ole Miss receiver taken in the 2^nd round, Philadelphia Eagles WR and 2x pro bowler AJ Brown. While Mingo has the intangibles to be a success in the NFL, his lack of production at the college level has been a criticism levelled at him. 

In his 4 years in Oxford, Mississippi Mingo amassed 112 receptions for 1758 yards and 12 touchdowns which is limited production for a second-round pick. However not all can be levelled at Mingo, he missed 7 games in the 2021 season due to a foot injury after a promising start to the season. 

We also saw Mingo have by far his best season in 2022 when he finished with 51 receptions for 861 yards and 5 touchdowns which goes to show his best football may still be ahead of him. With Matt Corral and Jaxson Dart as the Quarterbacks he played with it’s fair to say that he didn’t have elite QB play in college.

Round Three, Pick #80 – DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon

A pick that caused some confusion amongst Panthers’ fans was the team trading up 13 spots in the third round to select Oregon EDGE DJ Johnson, sending picks 93 and 132 to Pittsburgh for pick 80. Similarly to Mingo, Johnson has fantastic measurables, at 6’4” 270lbs and running a 4.49s 40 he could be a real force at the next level. 

However, his production just isn’t there, his best season for the Ducks came in 2022 when he registered 39 total tackles alongside 6 sacks and 6 TFL. As a 6-year college player with Oregon and the Miami Hurricanes, you’d expect the player to have some better stats from his college days. 

Johnson is also lacking any true pass rush moves as still somewhat of a novice at the position having split his time between both EDGE and TE in college. And being an older prospect at 24 it may be a risk to select an older player who is still a novice at the position. And with the Panthers’ still lacking a pass rush opposite Brian Burns the pressure will be on Johnson. 

However, this was a pick orchestrated by Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero and with the Panthers’ assembling a top-tier staff it’s worth trusting these coaches to do their job and bring the best out of players like Johnson who haven’t quite lived up to expectations at the college level.

Round Four, Pick #114 – Chandler Zavala, OG, NC State

After the Panthers’ two day 2 picks could be argued as somewhat of a reach, with their two selections on day three the team picked up two players with significant upside. After being an issue for the team in recent memory in 2022 the Panthers’ offensive line was arguably the most impressive part of the team with a reshaped unit.

But serious injuries in week 18 have cast doubt over the unit heading into 2023. Both guards suffered serious lower leg injuries as Left Guard Brady Christensen suffered a broken ankle and more seriously Right Guard Austin Corbett suffered a torn ACL. 

With those injuries to both guards, depth was a priority, the Panthers already have 2022 6^th-round pick Cade Mays on the roster who is expected to start in the absence of Corbett, the team also brought in veteran Justin McCray who offers depth at both guard and centre. 

Zavala is expected to come in and challenge for the starting LG spot, Zavala a dominant mauler in the run game has some familiarity with Panthers’ left tackle Ickey Ekwonu as they lined up together for the NC State Wolfpack in 2021. While the player still has some improvements to make in the passing game he plays with a certain nastiness that offensive line coaches love. 

While one would imagine Christensen is currently the starter if Zavala impresses in camp it’s not beyond the realm that former BYU man Christensen is moved to the swing tackle spot and Zavala takes his place at LG.

Round Five, Pick #145 – Jammie Robinson, DB, Florida State

The Panthers added a second player on day three with good upside as they selected former FSU defensive back Jammie Robinson in the fifth round. The player spent two years as a South Carolina Gamecock playing with current Jaycee Horn before transferring to the Seminoles in 2021 and ending his college career with back-to-back first-team All-ACC selections. 

Robinson offers great versatility for the Panthers’ and secondary coach Jonathon Colley as he’s lined up at safety, nickel, linebacker and even as an EDGE rusher. With the Panthers’ letting Myles Hartsfield walk in free agency the team currently has an opening at the Nickel position one that Robinson could easily fill. 

Robinson plays with a certain nastiness and has a chip on his shoulder after being taken in the fifth round tweeting “Ain’t 144 better” after being selected by the Panthers. Robinson was also the first rookie to ink his rookie deal showing that the player is ready to work. With the likes of Jonathon Colley and new assistant defensive backs coach DeAngelo Hall coaching him, Robinson is in a good position to impact the Panthers early on.