The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023 was on the move Friday.
The Carolina Panthers are snagging the pick from the Chicago Bears.
In return, the NFC North team will receive WR D.J. Moore, the 9th overall pick in this draft, a 2023 second-round pick, a first-round selection in 2024, and a second in 2025.
Moore, who had 63 receptions for Carolina in 2022, was, um, surprised.
😱😱
— DJ Moore💫 (@idjmoore) March 10, 2023
The last time the Panthers, who have a new head coach in Frank Reich, had the first pick was 2011 and they drafted Auburn QB and Heisman winner Cam Newton.
Chicago’s stretch of not having — using? — the first pick continues to stretch from 1947 when they drafted Bob Fenimore out of Oklahoma A&M.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar believes the big winner will be Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud.
Based on my observations, I think McCown might like Stroud a hair more, though he was highly complimentary about both quarterbacks. And given Reich’s history with Carson Wentz (for better and for worse), it may be that he prefers Stroud’s ability to get things done in the pocket as a larger human being.
… In the end, while I think the Panthers would be perfectly happy with Young as their future at the position, they went all in not to get a guy, but to get THEIR guy. And based on all attendant evidence, I think THEIR guy is C.J. Stroud.