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2023 Carolina Panthers schedule analysis
On Thursday night, the NFL released the complete Carolina Panthers schedule. Per NFL Research, Panthers opponents had a 130-157-2 record in 2022, making their 2023 schedule the sixth-easiest in the NFL.
Circle the date: Week 8 vs. Houston Texans (Oct. 29)
The top three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft -- QBs Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, plus edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. -- will likely feature prominently in this mid-season showdown. Young (Carolina) and Stroud (Houston) went 1-2 in the draft after fantastic college careers at Alabama and Ohio State, respectively. Young and Anderson were teammates in Tuscaloosa but will be on opposite sides in this one. If you are looking for a game with promising young talent, Panthers-Texans should be near the top of the list.
Toughest stretch: Weeks 3-6 (at Seattle Seahawks, vs. Minnesota Vikings, at Detroit Lions, at Miami Dolphins)
Carolina didn't get any favors with the way the season opens. The Panthers start with a division road game at the Falcons and then a division home game against the Saints. While division games are tough enough, though, it is the four games immediately following those two that the Panthers should fear the most.
Three of those games are on the road and each team in that span finished 2022 with a winning record. Seattle, Minnesota and Miami reached the playoffs while the Lions (+145) are the current favorite to win the NFC North and projected to win nine games in 2023. (h/t CBS Sports)
Easiest stretch: Weeks 8-11 (vs. Texans, vs. Indianapolis Colts, at Chicago Bears, vs. Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys are a good team, but Carolina has nine days off after playing the Bears on Thursday night in Week 10. The Texans and Colts have a combined over/under win total of 12 games and both are most likely a year or two away from being a contender. The same could probably be said about the Bears after they went 3-14 last fall and are trying to build a viable defense on the fly.
"Who won the Panthers-Bears trade?" Part One: Week 9 at Chicago
Carolina paid a handsome price to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, which it used to select Young. The Panthers traded their 2023 first-round (ninth overall) and second-round (61st overall) picks, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago to get who they hope will develop into the team's franchise quarterback.
Of course, it will take more than one game to determine whether the trade was the right move or not but when has that stopped anyone from overreacting in the moment? If the Panthers lose, they got fleeced. If they win, general manager Steve Fitterer is a genius and everyone in the organization should get a raise. Is that an overreaction? Sure. But it's also just an average day in the NFL.
Plan accordingly pic.twitter.com/cIBb4cIDsn
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 12, 2023
More must-reads:
- Bryce Young to make Monday Night Football debut vs. New Orleans Saints in Week 2
- Gary Jennings receives invite to Panthers training camp
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe
The Green Bay Packers released star cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this offseason, which frustrated the fan base because they did so without an obvious solution. Packers fans have been clamoring for the team to sign veteran and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, but Green Bay does not appear all that interested in doing so. But you know who could represent a possible replacement for Alexander? Wide receiver Bo Melton. Yes, you read that right: wide receiver Bo Melton. Melton has started Packers training camp as a cornerback, which could ultimately lead to the 26-year-old assuming a major role in Green Bay’s secondary. Why the position switch? Well, Melton was struggling finding playing time in the Packers’ receiving corps as it was. Now, Green Bay added Matthew Golden and Savon Williams into the equation, so the chances of him actually getting on the field as a receiver in 2025 are slim to none. Melton logged just eight catches for 91 yards last season, and in 2024, he finished with 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. The funny thing is, he actually has shown promise in very limited action, but there is simply no room for him. The Rutgers product seems to want to stay in Green Bay, hence his decision to flip to the other side of the ball. He knows he has no chance to play as a wide out. Why not utilize his athleticism as a cornerback? Of course, this does not necessarily mean that Melton will serve as Alexander’s primary replacement. In fact, it would be pretty concerning if the Packers choose not to bring in another corner between now and the start of the regular season. But hey, maybe Melton will be so impressive in camp that Green Bay will actually give him a look.
Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come
While the Seattle Mariners landed an impact bat on Thursday night, their trade for Josh Naylor has also likely impacted the entire upcoming MLB trade deadline. On Thursday, Seattle sent a pair of top pitching prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Naylor, with left-hander Brandyn Garcia (ranked as Seattle's 13th-best prospect by MLB.com) and right-hander Ashton Izzi (ranked as Seattle's 16th-best prospect by the same rankings) heading to the desert. Knowing what the Diamondbacks received in exchange for Naylor could well set the market for what is to come between now and the conclusion of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, set for 6 p.m. (Eastern) on July 31. The 28-year-old first baseman was ranked by The Athletic as the 17th-best trade candidate likely to be available, but ranked behind just one other first baseman (Baltimore's Ryan O'Hearn, who was slotted in at 16th). If Naylor brought in a pair of pitching prospects, including Garcia, who has appeared in two games this season for Seattle, the Diamondbacks could be salivating over what third baseman Eugenio Suarez and his 36 home runs could bring in return. All MLB teams who will be buying or selling at this year's trade deadline have had the first price bar set for them with the Naylor deal. Now it will be fascinating to see what comes next, especially knowing that Naylor will be a free agent at the end of this season. If Seattle gave up two pitching prospects for a player who could be a late-season rental only, imagine what the Minnesota Twins may be able to recoup for starting pitcher Joe Ryan (under team control through the 2027 season) or the Boston Red Sox might get back for outfielder Jarren Duran, who won't be a free agent until the 2029 campaign. While Naylor may not be the biggest move to come during this span before the trade deadline comes to a close, his deal could be the one that establishes selling prices for the trades that are to come. With so few MLB teams expected to be outright sellers, the price for available talent was expected to be high. We learned on Thursday night with the Naylor swap just how high those prices may go.
Shaquille O'Neal Is 'Still Worried' About the Lakers Despite Having LeBron James, Luka Doncic
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal believes the Los Angeles Lakers have made major moves this offseason. But despite adding big names like Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton alongside LeBron James, O’Neal says there’s still one big problem: shooting. In an exclusive interview with Casino Beats, O’Neal praised the Lakers’ revamped core but didn’t hold back on what he thinks they still lack. “They have a legitimate big now, got two premier players,” O’Neal said. “I’m still worried about the shooting. It’s a three-point league now.” The Lakers shook up the NBA back in February when they acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old All-Star joined James, now 40, to form one of the league’s most talented duos. The front office followed that move by signing center Deandre Ayton and adding veteran guard Marcus Smart in free agency. But even with those additions, O’Neal says the Lakers need more than just average shooters. “Not guys that can shoot, (I’m talking about) bonafide shooters,” he explained. “Guys that are guaranteed, like JJ Redick. He was a bonafide shooter.” Last season, the Lakers finished middle of the pack in three-point shooting, ranking 15th in total makes and 14th in percentage. Their lack of consistent outside threats was exposed during a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. O’Neal, who won three straight NBA titles with the Lakers, said the team has addressed its size and star power but warned that shooting could make or break their playoff run. Still, he expects the team to perform better in the upcoming season and make a push for homecourt advantage. “You got two premier players. You got a big guy that can do certain things,” O’Neal said. “Those three players should be able to get you to one through four. If they don’t have home court advantage, I’ll be very disappointed.” For O’Neal, the path forward is clear. The Lakers have the pieces, but to win in today’s NBA, “bonafide shooters” aren’t optional. They’re essential.
Report: Bears' Ben Johnson screamed at Caleb Williams during training camp
There is no ramp-up period for the Chicago Bears at training camp this year. Head coach Ben Johnson brought the same intensity he harbored during OTAs at the Bears’ first practice of training camp Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. Adam Hoge of CHGO Bears said that Johnson was upset with Williams and the offense multiple times on Wednesday. He got into the face of the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft during a seven-on-seven drill. “Accountability is what I’m talking about, though, because, look, it was like a three-strike thing, let’s call three strikes, and you’re out all right,” Hoge said on the CHGO podcast. “Because we saw Ben get in Caleb’s, you know what, during seven-on-sevens about something. I don’t know what it was about, but he wasn’t happy, and he was screaming at him, alright.” Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson tried to show patience Johnson tried to show patience with the second mistake, when there was a miscommunication with the wide receivers getting lined up. He let Williams and the receivers sort the issue out before the play. But Johnson didn’t stand idly on the third pre-snap mistake; another miscommunication between Williams and the receivers. Johnson pulled the entire first-team off the field in favor of the second-team led by veteran quarterback Case Keenum. Caleb Williams is picking up where he left off in OTAs Per multiple reports, the Bears’ offense had a poor day. Mark Carman called Williams’ performance on Wednesday the worst part of practice. “Today was just bad,” Carman said. “They had to pull the offense off the field. (Williams) wasn’t getting them lined up. It might not have been his fault every single time...his first pass was picked off (by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds). “He rolled right on long play, Cold Kmet’s wide open right in front of him. He ended up running out of bounds. It just wasn’t a good day for the quarterback.” Williams didn’t have a great spring. He struggled with every duty from calling the play in the huddle to getting the cadence right to throwing the ball into the middle of the field or further than 10 yards. As of Day 1 at camp, all of those things are still problems. But at least the $13 million per year head coach is mad.
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