The Carolina Panthers franchise will aim to reset under Frank Reich in 2023, and the team’s 2023 NFL Draft class — headlined by former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young — serves as the foundation for the work that lies ahead.
Want to see how the Panthers graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our full Carolina Panthers draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Carolina Panthers Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1 | Pick 1 overall (from CHI)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Round 2 | Pick 39 overall
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss - Round 3 | Pick 80 (from PIT)
DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon - Round 4, Pick 114 overall
Chandler Zavala, G, NC State - Round 5, Pick 145 overall
Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
How Many Draft Picks Did the Panthers Have in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Panthers ended up with only five picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, one each within the first five rounds. Going into draft weekend, the Panthers lacked any capital in Round 6 or Round 7. Often, moves made during the draft can change this, but Carolina stood firm with just five selections.
Who Did the Panthers Draft in 2023?
One reason the Panthers had so little capital in the 2023 NFL Draft was their deal with the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 overall pick. Carolina traded away the No. 9 overall selection, the 61st pick, a 2024 first-rounder, a 2025 second-rounder, and wide receiver DJ Moore for the right to sit at the top of the board and add their franchise QB in Young.
The acquisition of Young as a presumptive franchise QB gave the Panthers’ class a visible facelift, but Carolina also made use of its sparse capital in the rounds to come. On offense, Jonathan Mingo profiles as an excellent weapon for Young, and Chandler Zavala could factor into the starting guard rotation on the blocking front.
On defense, the Panthers added a versatile, physical safety presence in Jammie Robinson. Meanwhile, on the edge, Carolina acquired DJ Johnson, a raw but tools-rich complement to Brian Burns, who could find his stride in Ejiro Evero’s scheme.
Both of the Panthers’ original picks in Rounds 6 and 7 were dealt for veterans. In October 2021, Carolina sent its 2023 sixth-round pick to New England in exchange for cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Meanwhile, the Panthers sent their seventh-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Jaguars for wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. ahead of the 2022 campaign.
All of the Panthers’ latter four selections have a chance to make a difference in Year 1 under Reich’s oversight. But the legacy of Carolina’s 2023 NFL Draft class will largely fall on the shoulders of Young himself.
Young awed onlookers in college with his command, creation capacity, and “it” factor in chaotic situations, and those traits should help guide him forward at the NFL level.