of carolina panthers I have a very peculiar aversion to postponing pleasures. Whether it’s owner David Tepper, who has shown impulsive behavior over the years, or the organization as a whole, there’s no question the Panthers didn’t want to wait to use their NFL draft picks.
In the 2024 NFL Draft under new general manager Dan Morgan, the Panthers moved down several spots in order to acquire more draft capital, which was quite inevitable. Under previous regimes in 2021, 2022 and 2023, they were able to trade a lot of picks for players or move up higher in the draft.
They traded a total of seven draft picks to acquire a total of five players in the 2023 draft, but only two will remain on the 2024 roster.
In the 2024 draft, they traded six draft picks to acquire a total of four players, but only two will remain on the 2024 roster.
Adding in the 2025 pick they traded last year, the Panthers will move 14 draft picks, totaling just four players to be on the 2024 roster. Bryce Young, DJ Johnson, Xavier Leggett, Diontae Johnson.
Here are all the transactions in which the Panthers used draft picks to trade up or trade players since the start of the 2023 NFL Draft.
2023 NFL Draft
- As part of a step-up package, they traded a first-round pick (nine overall) and a second-round pick (61 overall) and selected QB Bryce Young with the first overall pick.
- As part of the 2022 trade up, they traded a third-round pick (79th overall) to advance to the third round to select QB Matt Corral. (He was not on the 2023 roster.)
- They traded their third-round (93 overall) and fourth-round (132 overall) picks to move up to the 80th pick and select pass rusher DJ Johnson.
- He was traded a sixth-round pick (187th overall) in exchange for Stephon Gilmore in October 2021 (he was not on the roster in 2022 and 2023).
- They traded a seventh-round pick (226th overall) as part of a package to acquire WR Laviska Shenault in August 2022.
2024 NFL Draft
- They traded a first-round pick (No. 1 overall) as part of a package to select QB Bryce Young No. 1 overall in 2023.
- As part of the package, they traded a second-round pick (33rd overall) and a sixth-round pick (200th overall) to move up one spot and select WR Xavier Leggett.
- In July 2022, a fifth-round pick was traded for QB Baker Mayfield (Mayfield was released in December 2022).
- They traded a sixth-round pick (177th overall) as part of a package to acquire WR Laviska Shenault in August 2022.
- They traded a sixth-round pick (178th overall) as part of a package to acquire WR Diontae Johnson in March 2024.
2025 NFL Draft
- As part of the package, they traded a second-round pick and moved up to select QB Bryce Young first overall in 2023.
It’s very easy to realize that the Panthers have been chasing a quarterback for years. The 2021 trade for Sam Darnold and three picks, followed by Baker Mayfield, Matt Corral, and finally Bryce Young, was unsuccessful (Young’s story is still being written). Please note that this is not the case). To summarize, starting in 2021, four different quarterbacks have received a total of 10 draft picks. To make matters worse, the Panthers were supposed to have the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, a historic QB class with six signal-callers in the first 12 picks. I’m saying that.
DJ Johnson adjusted to the NFL in his rookie year and had a disappointing season after being a third-round pick. He appeared in 13 games, including three starts, and had 16 tackles and no sacks, despite playing nearly a third of Carolina’s defensive snaps. There’s no reason he can’t take a big step forward in his second year.
Young and Johnson are the only two players on the trade list who played in Carolina and will remain on the roster in 2024.
Corral missed his rookie season with a foot injury and was released before the 2023 season. Gilmore played just a few games in Carolina before leaving in free agency.Signed with Shenault seattle seahawks This offseason, he had 37 catches for 332 yards and one touchdown in two seasons with the Panthers. Mayfield was released in December 2022, and after a successful season with the Rams, he joined a rival team in the Carolinas. tampa bay buccaneers, will be the starting quarterback after Tom Brady retires. Mayfield just signed a contract extension in Tampa.
Morgan is a highly respected NFL front office executive, but he began his tenure with former Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer and coach Matt Rhule tied behind his back. If Young can hit, it’s worth it, but if he can’t hit, Carolina will be playing catch-up for a long time.
