The 2023 season has gone as poorly as possible for the Carolina Panthers. Despite the excitement around 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, the Panthers have proved to be a deeply flawed team, causing fans to look toward the 2024 NFL Draft. What picks does Carolina have to help improve its roster?
Carolina Panthers Draft Picks by Round in 2024
- Round 2
- Round 3
- Round 4
- Round 5 (from TEN)
- Round 5 (from SF)
- Round 6 (from ARI)
How Many Picks Do the Panthers Have in 2024?
The Panthers have six draft picks in 2024. They previously traded their 2024 first-round pick in their 2023 trade-up from ninth to No. 1 overall, which they used to select Young.
In 2022, Carolina dealt its 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for QB Baker Mayfield. They also traded its 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
However, Carolina was able to restock its supply of picks through other deals.
In August 2022, they received a fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for backup offensive lineman Dennis Daley and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft. In the second trade, which took place on Oct. 17, 2022, they acquired a sixth-round pick from the Arizona Cardinals for Robbie Chosen, along with a seventh-round pick in 2025.
Three days later, the Panthers traded Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a package of four draft picks, including second, third, and fourth-round picks in the 2023 draft as well as a fifth-round selection in 2024.
Who Did the Panthers Draft in 2023?
The Panthers had so little capital in the 2023 NFL Draft because of 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 the early returns on the decision to take Young over C.J. Stroud have been disastrous. Young has looked every bit like a rookie, struggling to grasp the game’s speed. Time will tell as to whether this was the correct decision.
MORE: Why Did the Panthers Draft Bryce Young Over C.J. Stroud?
Carolina then used its sparse capital in the rounds to come. On offense, Jonathan Mingo profiles as an excellent weapon for Young if the team utilizes his skill set correctly. Though the Panthers need playmaking, their decision to pair Mingo with veteran Adam Thielen has kneecapped the rookie, forcing him to play a role unsuited for his talents.
Chandler Zavala has become the starting left guard despite being a fourth-round pick. Injuries forced the rookie to play, and has thus far struggled to adjust to the NFL’s competition along defensive lines.
The Panthers added a versatile, physical safety presence on defense 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.
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-rounder to the Jaguars for Shenault ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Under Frank Reich’s oversight, the Panthers’ latter four selections could still make a difference in Year 1. 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.
