Carolina Panthers sending cadre including owner, GM, head coach to Ohio State pro day
The Carolina Panthers are in on drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, it would seem. And though the options a top the draft are very much in the eye of the beholder, they likely boil down to two quarterbacks: Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
And based on a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, it might be Stroud who the Panthers and its braintrust covet most. All told, 11 people repping the organization will attend the Ohio State pro day to see Stroud throw and workout.
That includes owners David and Nicole Tepper, head coach Frank Reich, general manager Scott Fitterer, among others.
While coaches, scouts and front office staff are known to attend a pro day or two — especially ones at high-profile schools where there are plenty of prospects to watch — owners aren’t usually on hand. Though the Teppers, David specifically, have not been known for keeping the traditional hands off appearance many owners work hard to maintain.
The full list of attendees from the Panthers organization is as follows:
- The Teppers
- Fitterer
- Reich
- Samir Suleiman, vice president
- Dan Morgan, assistant general manager
- Thomas Brown, offensive coordinator,
- Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach
- Jim Caldwell, senior assistant
- Cole Spencer, scouting director
- Joel Patten, scout
Beyond Stroud, the Panthers will get a good look at a bevy of NFL prospects that Ohio State features. There are offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, edge rusher Zach Harrison and center Luke Wypler are only a few of the participating Buckeyes. As is usually the case in Columbus, there’s plenty of talent to scope out for any NFL franchise.
And sophomore phenom receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be running routes and catching passes, offering a sneak-peak for what’s to come in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Ohio State is holding its pro day on Wednesday, Mar. 22.
It’s the first in a line of pro days for top quarterback prospects. And ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. knows these are the last chances for all the potential quarterbacks drafted to make a good, lasting impression.
“Figuring out QB1,” Kiper said on SportsCenter. “Now they’re in a position to get that QB1, own this division for a long time but they hit on that quarterback at nine, they probably weren’t gonna get any of the top three, maybe even top four. Now these pro days are coming up the 22nd of March: C.J. Stroud, 23rd Bryce Young, 24th Will Levis, very important.”