Three biggest concerns for Carolina Panthers before the draft

The Panthers -- who finished 7-10 in 2022 --  have made shrewd moves in free agency to raise their floor for the 2023 season. While Carolina has reason for optimism, it also must answer key questions in the lead-up to the April 27-29 NFL Draft.

1. What QB will be the pick at No. 1?

The Panthers traded the ninth overall pick in this year's draft, a 2024 first- and 2025 second-round pick and veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago for the first pick in the draft. That's the easy part. Now the Panthers must sift through all the game film,  NFL Scouting Combine and Pro Day workouts and dinner dates with the top QB prospects.

Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young are the most likely options with the pick. While both looked great in college, there's no scientific formula that can predict how either will perform at the next level. 

Since this isn't a year with a consensus No. 1 QB, such as in 2021 (Trevor Lawrence) or 2020 (Joe Burrow), the Panthers face enormous pressure to get this right. Choose incorrectly and you can end up like the Bears, who traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft to pick Mitch Trubisky at No. 2 overall. He has flamed out. 

With the 10th pick in the first round that year, the Chiefs took Patrick Mahomes, who has turned out OK.

2. Who's the new guy going to throw to?

The new QB will work with an underwhelming wideout corps headlined by free-agent signee Adam Thielen as well as Terrace Marshall Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr.

Free-agent additions Myles Sanders (RB) and Hayden Hurst (TE) are helpful, but without a true No. 1 wide receiver, anyone starting at QB this season -- whether it's Andy Dalton or the first overall pick -- will have a difficult time. Even with talented wide receivers last season in New Orleans, Dalton didn't light it up.

3. Who's the starting corner opposite Jaycee Horn?

Carolina has ingredients a good defense needs. A good defensive coordinator?  Ejiro Evero checks that box. Talent on all three levels? They have that in spades, too. 

In free agency, Carolina added safety Vonn Bell and defensive linemen DeShawn Williams and Shy Tuttle to a defense that already features defensive end Brian Burns, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, cornerback Jaycee Horn and a trio of linebackers -- Cory Littleton, Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson-- coming off strong 2022 seasons. 

The missing ingredient is a reliable corner opposite Horn. 

Per data from Pro Football Focus, the cornerback trio of C.J. Henderson, Donte Jackson and Keith Taylor allowed 110 receptions on 151 targets (72.8 percent) for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions last season. Quarterbacks posted an above-average passer rating against all three. 

Horn, meanwhile, allowed receptions on only 59.6 percent of his targets and four touchdowns. QBs had a dreadful 52.6 passer rating against him. In the draft, Carolina must get him a partner on the outside.