Failure is the only word that best describes the 2023 Carolina Panthers.
And the central mistake was the 2023 rookie class for the team, headlined by quarterback Bryce Young.
Recently, NFL.com ranked and graded rookie classes a year in review, and not surprisingly, the Panthers failed.
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Overall, the Panthers were ranked No. 28 and given a D+ grade for the 2023 NFL Draft, where they selected the following players:
Round 1
- (No. 1) Bryce Young, QB | 16 games/starts
Round 2
- (39) Jonathan Mingo, WR | 15 games/14 starts
Round 3
- (80) DJ Johnson, OLB | 13 games/3 starts
Round 4
- (114) Chandler Zavala, OG | 10 games/7 starts
Round 5
- (145) Jammie Robinson, S | 15 games/2 starts
The primary reason behind the Panthers’ poor grade and ranking is Young.
Here is what NFL.com had to say about the Alabama quarterback:
“The prime disappointment was Young’s rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick started 16 games, and it was tough sledding for most of it. The environment seemed extremely unfavorable for learning on the fly, with the Panthers lacking elite weapons and cohesion on the offensive line. Carolina also fired head coach Frank Reich midseason, and it’s fair to wonder if turmoil on the coaching staff stunted Young’s growth. Tight end Hayden Hurst said after the season he thought Young had “too many voices in his head” during the trying season.”