Louis Riddick reveals reason for Panthers owner David Tepper's 'unusual' hands-on scouting approach

Ahead of Ohio State’s Pro Day — which most prominently featured quarterback CJ Stroud — the Carolina Panthers were well-represented. That’s not a surprise considering they have the No. 1 overall pick after a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears, but it was a surprise that owner David Tepper was a big part of the group that took Stroud to dinner Tuesday.

According to ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, an owner doesn’t typically get that hands-on in the scouting process. That said, he didn’t blame Tepper for diving in — and the Panthers owner plans to see more quarterbacks in the next week, as well.

“It’s very unusual,” Riddick said on The Paul Finebaum Show Wednesday. “Obviously, team principals like president, general manager, scouting directors, head coaches are mainstays at these kinds of workouts, especially when you’re talking about the No. 1 or a top-10 overall pick. But for the owner to now be on the scouting trail — and this isn’t where it’s going to stop for David Tepper. My understanding is he’s going to be in Tuscaloosa tomorrow with the rest of us, he will be in Lexington on Friday, he will be in Gainesville next week for Anthony Richardson.

“They are going through a very, very comprehensive, exhaustive, methodical process as far as trying to figure out which one of these guys best fits them culturally, character-wise and then, as far as the skillset on the football field. So yeah, he’s taking this very seriously and obviously, he should.”

Since Cam Newton’s last full season with Carolina in 2018, the quarterback situation has been a rough go. The Panthers had three different quarterbacks — Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker — start under center in 2022, and all three are now out of the picture. All told, seven different quarterbacks have started since 2019.

That’s why Riddick defended Tepper going out and seeing the quarterback prospects first-hand.

“You’ve seen the situation down in Carolina. You’ve seen how the quarterback situation hasn’t been one that has born the kind of fruit that they need,” Riddick said. “He desperately wants to get that situation corrected. That’s why you trade up to No. 1 overall and you give up the assets that you do. Therefore, it requires you getting out here on the road and meeting these young men one-on-one, face-to-face and not just relying on what your general manager, your team president, head coach say. Although, look, that’s what you hire them for, but David Tepper’s a very smart man.

“David Tepper has made a lot of money in his lifetime because he’s made very smart decisions both business-wise and from a personal standpoint and relationship standpoint, and that’s what he’s doing. He’s trying to figure out which one of these … young men is the one that [he wants] to have a relationship with that. hopefully, lasts 10-15 years and results in some serious, serious hardware being put in the trophy case down there in Charlotte.”