Why the Carolina Panthers should not take a QB in ’23

The Carolina Panthers went 7-10 in 2022 and have a better roster than people think. For that reason, they should skip taking a QB in the 2023 NFL Draft.  Sometimes, the best option for the team is to not draft and develop a quarterback.

While a majority of the quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs are homegrown talents, the Panthers should consider not going this route, or at least putting it off for a year or two.  When Steve Wilks took over for the fired Matt Rhule, he led the team to a 6-6 finish and a near division title.

The best of the team came out under Wilks.  They played strong defense and hurt opponents on the ground.  The potential of the team was clear, but it was also clear that the team did not have a competent answer at the quarterback position.

So one would think that the most logical decision would be to draft one in 2023, right?  Wrong.  You see, the NFC South is wide open next year, as the 8-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely won’t see Tom Brady re-sign with them, and the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons both went 7-10 but are not in as good of shape as the Panthers.

The opening is there for any team to take control of this division for the next few years, and there appears to be a nice crop of decent veteran quarterbacks available this coming offseason.  If the Carolina Panthers are set on hiring an offensive mind, that may bode well for a veteran quarterback that they bring in.

To me, someone like Derek Carr, who has over 200 career touchdown passes and over 30,000 passing yards, would be a perfect fit in Carolina.  He’d instantly become the best QB in the division and would essentially be a shoe-in for the division title and a home playoff game in 2023.

The window for this week division is open, and I think the Panthers should run right through it.