The Carolina Panthers could not guarantee themselves a rookie quarterback for the first round, not when picking ninth overall. That is why they do not pick ninth anymore.
Carolina is close to making a bold move to trade up to the top overall pick in this year’s draft, courtesy of the deal with the Chicago Bears Friday.
Multiple reports confirm that the Panthers will trade the Bears the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft, the late second-rounder bought from the San Francisco 49ers (61st overall), including next year’s first-round pick, a 2025 second-rounder, and wide receiver DJ Moore to get to the No.1 overall choice in this year’s draft. The deal becomes official at the start of the league year next Wednesday.
Although this is a significant haul for Chicago, it is the cost of doing business to get a top rookie quarterback too, something that Carolina was clearly set on doing.
“You go get the guy that you want, you know,” general manager Scott Fitterer said at the combine about potentially trading up for a quarterback. “If you have a conviction on a guy, you go get him. It’s pretty simple that way. If you don’t know and you’re going to give all these resources to go up and get it, you’re hurting your team in the long run.
“You better be right. You better have conviction if you do move up. When you do that, you’re all in.”
The move reassures the team of one of the groups of top four passers in this year’s draft – Bryce Young from Alabama, CJ Stroud from Ohio, Will Levis from Kentucky or Anthony Richardson from Florida. This was not something they could have been sure of if they remained at No.9.
It also gives the Panthers certainty going into the start of free agency next week, knowing they can build a plan around a drafted rookie quarterback rather than getting a different grade from a veteran starter. They talked to Derek Carr former Raiders quarterback, but he has signed a four-year deal with the Saints.
The only quarterbacks warming Carolina’s roster presently are Matt Coral and Jacob Eason.
Knowing that they can now draft one, the Carolina Panthers can change their perception of free agents. Quarterbacks available next week in free agency are Jimmy Garoppolo, Sam Darnold, Jacoby Brissett, and others.
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