5 Panthers on Thin Ice Heading Into the NFL Draft
By Joe Summers
The Panthers have four picks in the top 65 selections of the 2024 NFL Draft, so it's reasonable to expect the oganization to bring in multiple impact players. Carolina suffered through a 2-15 season last year and improvements are necessary across the board.
While they could still be active in free agency, the biggest additions will now likely come in the draft. Several prospects look like starters from day one and fans should be excited about this deep class.
If Carolina succeeds at the draft, that naturally means that some incumbent starters and depth players will lose their roles. Given that reality, let's look at five Panthers on thin ice with the NFL Draft just over one week away.
5 Panthers on Thin Ice Before NFL Draft
1. Bryce Young - QB
Young isn't in danger of losing his job yet, though he'll certainly be under heavy scrutiny if he doesn't make a massive improvement in his sophomore campaign.
The Panthers are committed to rebuilding around the 2023 No. 1 overall pick. Provided GM Dan Morgan identifies some offensive weapons early in the draft, the pressure will be on Young to perform and prove he's truly the franchise QB he was selected to be.
While his supporting cast was dreadful, Young himself didn't give much reason to get excited in his rookie year. He completed just 59.8% of his passes, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt with 11 TDs to 10 interceptions and 62 sacks.
Not all of the Panthers' problems can be put on Young's shoulders. It's the front office and coaching staff's jobs to put him a position to succeed and they did not do that.
However, the environment surrounding Young should be better in 2024-25. This is his time to show he's the guy for Carolina and that's why he's on thin ice.
Before the next player, don't forget to claim FanDuel Sportsbook's expiring $200 sign-up bonus available now. New users in North Carolina who bet $5 or more (with a $10 deposit) on any first wager will get $200 in bonus bets win or lose. Click here to sign up for FanDuel now!