Tepper confirms Panthers expected to pick C.J. Stroud, but still 'confident' with Bryce Young

Draft night was supposed to go a little differently for the Carolina Panthers, team owner David Tepper confirmed Tuesday morning.  In a press conference where Tepper was expected to explain why he fired Frank Reich midseason, the owner veered into Draft Night analysis. And in those discussions, he finally confirmed that the Panthers liked C.J. […]

Ian Kayanja
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Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Feature image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Draft night was supposed to go a little differently for the Carolina Panthers, team owner David Tepper confirmed Tuesday morning. 

In a press conference where Tepper was expected to explain why he fired Frank Reich midseason, the owner veered into Draft Night analysis. And in those discussions, he finally confirmed that the Panthers liked C.J. Stroud. 

"Originally, we were going to go with the No. 2 pick, and we thought we'd get C.J.," Tepper said. "We thought Texas was going to pick Bryce. Listen, we preferred Bryce. He was our No. 1 pick. We had a lot of conviction. The process was done the way the process was done." 

Tepper said the Panthers wanted to trade to No. 2, not the No. 1 pick, because they thought the Houston Texans wanted Bryce Young.

Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) after the game at Bank of America Stadium..Feature image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Hindsight is 20-20. It is always easier to look at the result and critique the process. However, Tepper also said that the support for drafting Young was a unanimous decision between scouts and coaches. 

"We are totally confident in that pick," Tepper said regarding selecting Young. "I think the people that made that pick first would be totally confident in that." 

What is unclear regarding Tepper's comments is that the Panthers ultimately possessed the No. 1 pick in the draft and selected Young. 

His claiming affinity for Stroud now that the Texans' rookie is lighting the NFL up appears to be an owner trying to save his own skin. 

If the Panthers really admired Stroud as much as Tepper claims the franchise did, the team would have selected him first. 

In the end, Carolina didn't. 

So Carolina has to be confident in Young because it has no other option. It gave away the house — in draft capital — to get him. So bad selection or not — bust or not — the Panthers are stuck with Young for the foreseeable future and beyond. 

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