Former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Thomas Davis. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers legend says team’s top pick will be ‘surprising’

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 3/21/23

The Carolina Panthers moved up from the ninth selection in the 2023 NFL Draft to No. 1 overall in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears earlier this month.

It’s no secret that embattled general manager Scott Fitterer is targeting a quarterback with the first selection. Simply put, teams don’t give up the type of capital Carolina yielded to Chicago for a player at another position.

Most reports since this blockbuster trade have linked Carolina to either Alabama’s Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud from Ohio State. As the draft process plays out, things could take a dramatic and surprising turn.

Former Panthers linebacker and franchise legend Thomas Davis discussed this during a recent appearance on NFL Network. What he had to say in discussions with NFL Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah was rather interesting.

Jeremiah indicated that its his belief Carolina will go with Young at No. 1 overall. At that point, Davis provided a rebuff. “It will be a very, very surprising pick,” Davis said.

Typically, we wouldn’t put too much stock in this. But Davis has to be seen as an authority in all things Panthers football.

He was a first-round pick of the organization back in 2005, suiting up for 14 seasons in Carolina. The former linebacker is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

It’s been a foregone conclusion for some time that some combination of Young and Stroud will go at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. Carolina’s decision to trade up for the No. 1 pick with the Houston Texans boasting the second selection adds another layer to this.

With that said, the performances we saw from Anthony Richardson (Florida) and Will Levis (Kentucky) during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine could change things up a tad.

Sportsnaut NFL insider Benjamin Allbright noted recently in his mailbag column that Panthers owner David Tepper has had his eye on Stroud for a bit.

That now makes three different quarterbacks mentioned to Carolina with the first selection. Whether this is by design remains to be seen.

What we do know is that Carolina leaked that it could move down from the first selection once it acquired said pick from Chicago. Heck, the ink had not dried on that deal becoming official before those leaks came out.

What does this all mean? We really have no idea in what direction Carolina might go with the first pick. It really is a guessing game at this point.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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