With a 2-15 season, the Carolina Panthers finished with the worst record in the 2023 NFL campaign. That’s not even the worst news because they traded the rights to this year’s No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick (plus a lot more) to get quarterback Bryce Young as the top pick last year. That means Carolina isn’t scheduled to select a player until the beginning of the draft’s second day.
As BetCarolina.com prepares for the launch of online North Carolina sports betting, we decided to look at the 2024 NFL Draft needs for the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina Panthers Draft Needs 2024
Outside of running back and quarterback (maybe), there’s probably not an area where the Panthers can immediately improve their roster through the draft. Not the best sign for improving the Panthers playoff chances in 2024. Bolstering the skill positions on offense is a must, especially if the team wants to see if Young can turn a rebuilding team into a contender. On defense, Carolina gave up a league-low 3,109 passing yards last season, but the defense also only registered an NFL-worst 27 sacks – just eight more than T.J. Watt had on his own. The hope is that D.J. Johnson can develop into that role, but the Panthers may still look for options there as well.
Panthers Depth Chart For Biggest Needs
Adam Thielen caught 103 passes last season, but he turns 34 before the start of the 2024 season. He also doesn’t have the explosiveness that D.J. Moore, who was dealt in the package to get Young, offered. It also didn’t help Young’s cause that Jonathan Mingo had the second-worst open rating (out of 153 receivers) in the league last season, according to ESPN Analytics. D.J. Chark was tied for 10th-worst overall.
Carolina Panthers Mock Draft: 2nd Round Pick Odds
It would likely be an upset if the Panthers did not pick a receiver when they kick off the second round of the NFL Draft. Who that receiver will be is more uncertain, although Xavier Worthy might have just secured a first-round draft slot after his record-setting 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. If Adonai Mitchell is still available, he’ll likely be the favorite, with Ladd McConkey a potential fallback pick.
Keep in mind that teams can find valuable skill players in the later rounds. Last year, the Los Angeles Rams picked Puka Nacua in the fifth round, and Tank Dell went to the Houston Texans in the third round. A player like Louisville’s Jamari Thrash could be such an option in this year’s draft.
Carolina Panthers Draft Picks 2023
Young’s season was the worst among all starting quarterbacks in 2023, but how much of the blame can be shouldered by him? New coach Dave Canales was the offensive coordinator who helped Baker Mayfield turn his career around with Tampa Bay. D.J. Johnson, whom the Panthers hope to develop into an edge rusher, did not play until Week 4 last season. Neck and knee injuries limited Chandler Zavala to just 10 games, and Jammie Robinson mainly contributed on special teams last season.
Stay with BetCarolina.com as we continue to follow the Panthers NFL Draft and don't forget to bookmark our North Carolina sportsbook promos page to take advantage of the best deals we have to offer.
