Potential No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick meets with Panthers ahead of pro day

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud met with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday ahead of Ohio State's Pro Day on Wednesday, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.

"The Panthers met with Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud on Tuesday in advance of today's pro day throwing session and plan to have another private meeting with Stroud before the draft in Charlotte, per sources," Pelissero wrote. "A thorough process as Carolina ponders the No. 1 pick."

The Panthers traded the No. 1 pick to the Chicago Bears for the ninth overall pick in 2023, a 2024 first-round pick, two second-round picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. Multiple Panthers representatives made their way to the Buckeyes' pro day, including Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper and general manager Scott Fitterer.

Stroud was taken with the first pick in ESPN analyst Mel Kiper's mock draft. Four quarterbacks were taken in the first five spots, including Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Kentucky signal-caller Will Levis.

The Panthers worked with a multitude of quarterbacks in an attempt to find their answer under center in recent years. Carolina rotated through Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, among others, to find some stability at the most critical position in football.

Andy Dalton, Matt Corral and Jacob Eason make up the team's trio in the quarterback room. Carolina brought in running back Miles Sanders, wide receiver Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst, among others, to help revitalize the Panthers offense. 

"We really feel like we're putting this guy in a good position with some of the pieces that we've signed," Panthers head coach Frank Reich said, via Fox Sports' Greg Auman. "Everybody wants a leader. Everybody wants a playmaker. Those are general terms you hear about the quarterback and certainly true of what we're looking for. 

"I feel like we're putting pieces in place where he can walk in and be ready to go."

Should Reich be correct, and Carolina continues to mold its offensive core around Stroud's skill set, The Panthers can push themselves back into playoff contention, even with a rookie quarterback.