“League insiders” believe Panthers were traded for CJ Stroud

The Carolina Panthers took a big swing Friday night as they advanced to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carolina struck a deal with the Chicago Bears, taking the No. 9 pick that year, three other picks (including a first-round pick in 2024), and prolific wide receiver DJ Moore to the Windy City in exchange for the ability sent take any player they want.

As to who that player will be, the safe bet is that the Panthers will go with any of the four known quarterback prospects in this draft. You can lobby for any of them, but according to The Athletic’s Joseph Person, the belief is Carolina has her sights set on Ohio State signal caller CJ Stroud.

About The Athletic:

The team’s party line will be that Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer will use the next seven weeks to consider which of the big four quarterbacks they want: CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson. But league insiders believe it will be Stroud, who is taller than Young, more accurate than Richardson and a bigger playmaker than Levis. Stroud showed precision passing at the combine last week and proved in the college football playoff semifinals against Georgia that he’s not afraid to leave the pocket when necessary.

While Stroud isn’t considered as mobile as the other three players and doesn’t have the kind of stunning physical tools Levis and Richardson shot at draftboards, his mix of height (6’3, 214 pounds) and polish is such a passer can make him the safest option of the bunch. In two years as a starter at Columbus, Stroud completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 8,123 yards with 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.