Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers fire two defensive assistants as spiral continues

The Carolina Panthers look like a team ready to wave the white flag on the 2022 season. 

The team, which has already fired its head coach and traded its best offensive player, fired two defensive coaches after a 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. 

Firing your assistants doesn't bode well for the future, and Wilks looks like he might be looking for a new job himself if the Panthers keep struggling as they are. 

The team currently has the No 2. pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, per Tankathon, and could be in prime position to take one of the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class.  

The top two quarterbacks out there at present are Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young. If this situation holds, one of those two guys will likely sport Carolina blue next fall. 

The Panthers have three quarterbacks that seem destined to rotate in-and-out of the lineup this year, and none of the three may return to the team in 2023. That includes two former first-round picks in Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. 

Life isn't great for Panthers fans, but one quarterback can change that quickly. With each loss, the prospect of drafting a top quarterback becomes more likely.

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