NFL executives don't have differing opinions on what to expect from the Panthers in the 2023 NFL season. 

In a recent survey by The Athletic, six NFL execs from a wide range of roles — general manager, assistant GM, pro personnel, contracts/salary cap, and analytics/strategy — ranked every NFC team on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons.

Where the Panthers wound up is and isn't shocking, so let's take a quick look. 

Out of the 16 NFC teams, the Panthers landed at No. 10 in the conference. One and two on the list were predictable. However, the third team was a shock for nothing else but name-alone. Ranked No. 1 are the Philadelphia Eagles. No. 2 is the Kansas City Chiefs. No. 3 is the Detroit Lions. 

But what earned the Panthers the somewhat lowly No. 10 ranking? It comes down to too many question marks on the offensive line and too few answers at wide receiver. 

The voting breakdown of the six executives for the Panthers went as such: 14-12-12-8-9-4. 

One of the executives who slotted the Panthers No. 12 said they did so because "even if Bryce Young is really good, he’s got no protection and no weapons." 

Meanwhile, another voter who placed the Panthers eight did so because they like the Panthers' star-studded coaching staff and "think they are going to have a really diverse run game for the young quarterback, and I think they are good defensively.”

These perspectives encapsulate what heading into the 2023 season appears to be for the Panthers. It isn't unbelievable to say they could win the division with the New Orleans Saints another year older, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trotting out been-there-done-that Baker Mayfield, and the Atlanta Falcons running what — at times — looks like a high school offense. 

But the Panthers still have a young (no pun intended) quarterback, with a fresh set of faces on the coaching staff, and a defense that, in seasons past, looks better on paper than they play on the field. 

The Panthers could go 8-9. The team could also go 5-12 or 10-7. No one really knows. But for once, it is safe to say that an NFL executive ranking could be right about a team. It is one mixed bag of expectation and disappointment waiting to happen. 

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Feature image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.