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Owner David Tepper popped in on the press conference with Scott Fitterer and Frank Reich after the Panthers drafted Bryce Young in the first round and may have tipped the team’s hand about what it might do in the second round.

In discussing why he believes Young was the quarterback who gave the Panthers their best shot of winning a Super Bowl, Tepper launched into an interesting aside about how Young’s skill set could impact the rest of the roster.

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“The way he throws the ball, the way he’s a point guard. How you can use the different players on the field. How you might not have to have as many elite receivers because he’s a point guard, right?” Tepper said. “He distributes the ball to people with (good) routes. So you can save some money there. We believe we can save money other places … and put that money into the defensive side of the ball.”

Tepper said the Panthers were “somewhat intentional” in their free-agent signings of wideout Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst, suggesting their route running would be a complement to Young’s ability to see the field and get the ball to open receivers.

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That said, I’m not striking all my the Day-2 receivers from my big board. But even before Tepper’s comments, an edge rusher made sense for the Panthers at 39, provided they don’t trade the pick. That need might be even more pronounced in the wake of Brian Burns’ ankle surgery last week.

But the Panthers might find better value at another position, like cornerback — specifically a Penn State corner with an NFL lineage.

On to Friday and the Panthers’ possible targets over the last two days of the draft.

Dane Brugler’s The Beast, the complete 2023 NFL Draft Guide, is now available. 

Day 2

CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State: I didn’t have Porter on my original big board because I didn’t think he’d still be on the board after the first round. He probably won’t be around long Friday, so the Panthers likely would have to trade up to get him. Fitterer likes long corners who can run. Check and check.

TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame: Another newcomer to my list for the same reason listed for Porter. The Panthers have a bunch of tight ends on the roster, including the aforementioned Hurst. So other positions are more logical at 39. Still, Mayer deserves a look.

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Edge B.J. Ojulari, LSU: The Panthers checked off nearly every box in free agency, but this one: A new pass-rushing piece for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Ojulari has an explosive skill set, comes from a football family and is a high character player who was a team captain at LSU. Sounds like a Reich guy.

Edge Byron Young, Tennessee: The 25-year-old Young took a circuitous route to the NFL, including an 18-month stint in Columbus, Ga., as an assistant manager at a Dollar General. After finally arriving in Knoxville in 2021, he led the Vols in sacks two seasons in a row.

DL Keion White, Georgia Tech: Like Will Levis, White will be back in the green room in Kansas City for a second night. The Raleigh native started his college career as a tight end at Old Dominion and ended it as an edge rusher at Tech, leading the Yellow Jackets with 7 1/2 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season.

WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss: Despite good size (6-2, 220) and decent speed, Mingo was not super productive in college. But he’s a good route runner and strong when attacking the football — two qualities which could make him attractive to the Panthers as a slot guy in their three-receiver sets. Plus, I mocked him to the Panthers in the third round.

WR Josh Downs, North Carolina: Undersized receiver had oversized production for the Tar Heels. Downs, whose dad was an NFL running back for six seasons, led the ACC in receptions with Sam Howell as his quarterback in 2021 and with Drake Maye throwing to him in ’22.

WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee: The Panthers signed a possession receiver in Thielen and a speed guy when they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with DJ Chark. But they could keep adding around Young, especially if a burner like Hyatt falls to them at 39.

WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati: Fitterer began the offseason by saying the Panthers could make some “sexy” additions this year after addressing the defense and the offensive line the past couple of offseasons. Enter the 5-11, 185-pound Scott, who ran a 4.44 40 at the combine and an unofficial 4.32 at his pro day.

WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest: Perry doesn’t have game-changing speed. But he’s long (6-3) and productive, having set a school record with 15 touchdown catches in 2021. He followed that with 11 more last season.

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WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State: The third-round prospect is only 5-11. But he’s fast and made a lot of big plays in the return game for the Spartans. (And man, I probably have too many receivers on this list unless Tepper was applying a smokescreen.)

TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State: The 6-6, 253-pound Musgrave excelled in four sports in high school — football, lacrosse, track and skiing. His athleticism was apparent at the combine, where he ran 4.61 in the 40 and recorded a 36-inch vertical leap. Musgrave is a smooth route runner who missed all but two games in 2022 with a knee injury.

TE Darnell Washington, Georgia: One of the more intriguing prospects in the draft because of his unique blend of size (6-7), strength and athleticism. That he wasn’t the best TE on his college team says more about Brock Bowers than it does Washington.

TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa: The addition of Hayden Hurst probably means the Panthers will wait until a later round to take a tight end, if they do at all. But LaPorta could be an excellent value pick in the third round. LaPorta doesn’t have the size of Washington and might not match the athleticism of first-round pick Dalton Kincaid or Musgrave. But the 6-3, 245-pounder accounted for 32.3 percent of the Hawkeyes’ receiving yards last season, the highest percentage of any FBS tight end.

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G Chandler Zavala, N.C. State: With starting guards Austin Corbett (ACL) and Brady Christensen (ankle) both recovering from major injuries, the Panthers could use another interior lineman. The last one they took from N.C. State worked out pretty well. Like Ikem Ekwonu, the 6-3, 316-pound Zavala is a big, physical mauler.

G Anthony Bradford, LSU: The 6-4, 332-pounder played guard and left tackle at LSU but is best suited to line up inside at the next level.

G Steve Avila, TCU: The majority of his college snaps came at center. But Avila didn’t allow a sack in 15 games at left guard in his final season.

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RB Kendre Miller, TCU: Fell one yard shy of 1,400 rushing yards last season, when he injured his MCL in the national semifinals and missed the championship game against Georgia before undergoing surgery in January.

CB DJ Turner, Michigan: The 5-11 Turner recorded the fastest 40 (4.26 seconds) at the combine among all positions. Turner can play nickel (where the Panthers have a need) or outside (where Donte Jackson is coming off Achilles surgery), and receivers will have a hard time running past him.

CB Julius Brents, Kansas State: The Panthers have leaned toward long corners under Fitterer and assistant GM Dan Morgan. The 6-3 Brents led the Wildcats with four INTs and eight pass breakups in 2022.

CB Cam Smith, South Carolina: College teammate of Jaycee Horn, Smith can play inside or outside. That versatility could be useful for a team without a true nickel.

Day 3

CB Jakorian Bennett, Maryland: While Turner was the fastest player in Indy, Bennett was the second-fastest with a 4.30-second 40. Bennett had a knack for getting his hands on passes at Maryland, where his 29 pass breakups were the most among all FBS players over the past two seasons.

CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse: The Charlotte-area native (Hickory Ridge HS) is coming off ACL surgery, which prevented him from working out before the draft.

CB Terell Smith, Minnesota: Smith has a nice combination of size (6-0, 205) and speed (4.41-second 40 at the combine). Plus, he’s not afraid to line up and play physical, press-man coverage — something else the Panthers value (see: Horn, Jaycee).

TE Cameron Latu, Alabama: Bringing in Young’s college tight end would give the young quarterback a trusted target who caught 56 passes for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons. Latu’s eight touchdown receptions in 2021 were the most by an Alabama tight end in school history. Something else to consider: Latu matched Young on the S2 test by reportedly scoring in the 98th percentile.

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TE Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion: The Penn State transfer caught scouts’ attention at the combine by finishing first among tight ends in the vertical leap, broad jump, three-cone drill and bench press. And he ran a 4.55 40 at 6-7 and 255 pounds.

TE Will Mallory, Miami: Pass-catching tight end grew up around NFL tight ends Jimmy Graham and Jeremy Shockey when his dad was a Saints assistant. Mallory’s late grandfather was a longtime college head coach for several programs, including Colorado and Indiana.

RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss: The Houston native had some off-the-field problems in high school that included being suspended for the 2019 state championship game. But the Panthers have drafted other players with character flags since Fitterer arrived.

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2023 NFL Draft Round 1 grades for all 31 picks

WR Charlie Jones, Purdue: In his first season with the Boilermakers after stops at Buffalo and Iowa, Jones’ 110 catches last year were the most in FBS. He also brings playmaking ability as a returner.

WR Derius Davis, TCU: There are durability questions surrounding Davis, who measured 5-8 and 165(!) pounds at the combine. But he has dynamic game-breaking skills after scoring on five punt returns in college.

LB Owen Pappoe, Auburn: The Tigers’ two-year captain ran the fastest combine 40 (4.39) among the linebackers. The 6-foot, 225-pounder isn’t particularly big, but was an effective leader/communicator in the middle of the Auburn defense who should benefit as a run-and-chase, weakside linebacker at the next level. Pappoe had a pair of 90-tackle seasons at Auburn.

LB Isaiah Moore, N.C. State: After going down with a season-ending ACL injury in 2021, Moore bounced back last season with 82 tackles, 15 for loss, along with three sacks and three pass breakups. The Virginia native wore the No. 1 jersey at N.C. State, given to the player who’s best demonstrated a combination of work ethic, character, leadership and on-field accomplishments.

LB Dorian Williams, Tulane: The Charlotte-area native ended his college career with a bang, finishing with a career-high 17 tackles and earning Cotton Bowl defensive player of the game honors in the Green Wave’s 46-45 win over USC.

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LB Yasir Abdullah, Louisville: The Miami native was a four-year starter at Louisville, where he excelled as a stand-up rush linebacker in the Cardinals’ 3-4.

Edge Nick Hampton, Appalachian State: The team captain made a living in opponents’ backfields. Hampton’s 11 sacks in 2021 were the most since the Mountaineers moved to FBS.

Edge D.J. Johnson, Oregon: Johnson made Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list after playing both ways (plus special teams) for the Ducks in 2021. Johnson had a first-down catch (as a tight end) and the game-ending sack against Ohio State early in the ’21 season. He did 28 reps on the pro bench press (225 pounds) and ran a 4.49 40 at 6-4 and 260 pounds.

Edge Andre Carter, Army: With his long frame and promising ceiling, Carter could become the first Army player in the Super Bowl era to be drafted in the first 200 picks. (Shoutout to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler for that factoid.)

S Christopher Smith, Georgia: The Panthers are probably good on the back end after tendering restricted free agent Sam Franklin and adding two other safeties in Vonn Bell and Eric Rowe. But with Jeremy Chinn shifting to big nickel, taking a Day-3 safety isn’t the worst idea. Smith makes up for his small stature with outstanding playmaking: He led Georgia with three interceptions last season and returned a blocked field goal 96 yards for a touchdown.

(Top photo of Jalin Hyatt: Randy Sartin / USA Today) 

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