The Carolina Panthers got their guy when they selected Bryce Young with the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The question is, now that Young is on the roster, do the Panthers have everything in place for him to be successful?
Your 2023 first overall pick: @_bryce_young 🙌
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D3EqkrKLy4 pic.twitter.com/GDOUnj97NV— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
A Breakdown of Bryce Young’s Support System in Carolina
Offensive Line
The importance of having a solid offensive line to protect a young franchise quarterback cannot be overstated. These first couple of seasons are paramount to his development as a pro, and the last thing the Panthers want to see is Bryce Young become gun-shy or skittish due to a lack of protection.
The strength of the Panthers’ offensive line is at left tackle. and there are not many teams that can make that claim. Ikem Ekwonu is on his way to becoming one of the more dynamic left tackles in the league. There is still room for growth from Ekwonu, but it is hard to come away from his tape from his rookie season with anything but optimism.
The interior offensive line of Brady Christensen, Bradley Bozeman, and Austin Corbett is solid. It would not be surprising to see Cade Mays overtake one of the guard spots, but the Panthers are in decent shape on their interior.
Taylor Moton is sufficient at right tackle, but the team could look to upgrade the position. The Panthers lack depth at the tackle position, and at minimum, need to add a swing tackle to their roster either through the draft or free agency.
Tight Ends
The Panthers have one of the more solid tight end rooms in the league. With the addition of Hayden Hurst this off-season, to go along with Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas, the Panthers have three playable options at tight end. While the room is not overly dynamic, they should be able to provide Young with stable security blankets on the field. Although it is a deep draft class at tight end, and they could look to add a flex, or hybrid tight end in the draft on day three.
Wide Receivers
The Panthers had to move their most dynamic receiver, in D.J. Moore, in order to obtain the number one overall pick. But if Young turns out to be a true franchise quarterback, Moore will become a quick afterthought in the minds of Panther fans.
But the Panthers did add two solid receiving options for Young by signing D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen in free agency. With Laviska Chenault and Terrace Marshall already in the fold, the Panthers have an intriguing wide receiver room for Young to work with.
But even with the free agent additions, this is an area that the Panthers need to keep adding to. Expect the Panthers to pick another wide receiver at some point over the next two days in the draft. You can not have enough weapons for a young quarterback to have at his disposal.
Running Backs
With the addition of Miles Sanders, the Panthers have their three-down back for 2023. But with only Chuba Hubbard behind Sanders, the Panthers need to add to that room and would be wise to do so during an extremely deep running back draft class. DeWayne McBride stands out as an obvious fit, as a power back now, that could become a workhorse back down the line.
Coaching Staff
This is where the Panthers should feel the most comfortable. They have an outstanding quarterback nest in place to help guide and develop Young. It all starts with Frank Reich, a former quarterback who has seen everything the NFL can throw at you. Never forget, Reich had Carson Wentz playing at a MVP level in only his second season, so he has been through this exact process before.
Where the Panthers have insulated Young’s development is in the quarterback room. The Panthers added a 12-year NFL veteran, in Andy Dalton, to backup Young and be an extra set of eyes and a sounding board for the rookie. That kind of experience in the meeting room and breaking down film is invaluable.
But the Panthers cheat code is their quarterback’s coach, Josh McCown. While McCown is a first time quarterback coach in the NFL, anyone that has followed the well-traveled signal caller knows that this is a position that he was born for. Young should soak up all the knowledge he can from McCown over the next couple of seasons because McCown will be on a shortlist for head coach opportunities in short order.
Bryce Young’s Support System Overview
The Panthers have a decent enough offensive line to protect Young but need to add a swing tackle to the mix. Between the wide receivers and tight ends, there is enough pass catching talent in place, and differing skill sets, to feel like Young has what he needs to develop as a thrower.
The running back room is sufficient enough for now, with Miles Sanders leading the charge. They still need to add a power back to the room to round it out. This coaching staff is built to develop a young quarterback, and at the end of the day, that must be priority one, two, and three for the Panthers.
They traded up to land their guy, but now that they have him, it will be up to Young to put in the work it will require to maximize his potential. Fortunately for Young, he landed in a spot that is set up for him to succeed. Not many quarterbacks drafted at number one overall get that luxury.
Main Image: Chris Kwiecinski/Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
