Panthers Owner Says Original Plan Was to Trade Up to No. 2 for C.J. Stroud
It's only been 12 weeks, but hindsight is already making the Carolina Panthers look bad for trading up to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and using it on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
While Young has struggled for the 1-10 Panthers, a team that just fired their first-year head coach in Frank Reich, No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud has excelled for the Houston Texans in his rookie campaign so far.
Speaking to the media Tuesday in the wake of Reich's firing, Panthers owner David Tepper said the team's original plan was to trade up to the No. 2 pick and take Stroud, because they expected the Texans to select Young at No. 1:
Houston was leading the race for the No. 1 overall pick for the entire 2022 season, but a miraculous victory in Week 18 over the Indianapolis Colts dropped them to No. 2, and put the Chicago Bears in the No. 1 spot. Carolina eventually traded a massive haul to the Bears for that pick, and used it on Young instead of Stroud.
Tepper went on to say that he fully supported the coaching staff and the scouting department in their unanimous recommendation that Young be their selection with the No. 1 pick instead of Stroud, and says the organization remains fully confident in that pick.
It's far too early to pass full judgement on everything attached to that move, but with his words on Tuesday, it sure feels like Tepper is trying to have his cake and eat it, too
