ESPN's Adam Schefter on Panthers trading for top pick 'they've got the right coaches'

The Carolina Panthers just made a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears to move up to the No. 1 overall spot in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carolina will have just over a month to decide who they will select first. All signs point to the Panthers selecting a quarterback with the pick, but which quarterback will they go with?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Carolina is deciding between Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. And instead of shopping free agency for their next quarterback, there is a reason why Carolina opted to go for the No. 1 overall pick.

“The Panthers believe they have 48 days, and they’ve got the right coaches in the building right now. Frank Reich, Josh McCown (and) others; their general manager Scott Fitterer to assess this quarterback class and to make a decision,” said Schefter. “Just hung up the phone with someone in the organization, and there’s a belief that David Tepper loves Bryce, (and) Frank Reich likes CJ Stroud. And they said we love all these quarterbacks, and we’ve got 48 days to make a decision on which we will be taking.”

With the cap space Carolina has, the Panthers could have been in the running for one of the veteran quarterbacks currently on the market in the NFL. But the organization feels like the best direction is to start over fresh. And with the coaches that they have at their disposal, they feel they are in the perfect position to groom whoever they select at No. 1.

Bears trade No. 1 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft to Panthers

The Bears are trading the top pick in this year’s draft to the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news. ESPN’s Adam Schefter then reported Chicago will get wide receiver DJ Moore, the No. 9 overall pick and the No. 61 overall pick in 2023, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024 and the Panthers’ second round pick in 2025 in return.

Now, Carolina has the ability to take its potential franchise quarterback atop the draft. Meanwhile, for the Bears, they not only load up on draft capital, but add an important wide receiver weapon for quarterback Justin Fields.