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Who are the Carolina Panthers going to take first overall? After trading with the Chicago Bears to move up from nine to one, the team is reportedly undecided on their pick.
They can choose from Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young, and CJ Stroud.
Mel Kiper believes one of those three stands out and has often looked like the first pick.
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The ESPN analyst said:
"I saw [Anthony Richardson] against Utah on September 3. He looked like the number one overall pick guaranteed. You could put it in pen. He looked phenomenal. I mean, his legs -- the way he can run the football. He's going to be an elite running quarterback right away. He showed the big-time arm strength, he was making accurate throws, he was doing everything."
Though it's generally unwise to base something off of a single game, Kiper is right that Richardson often looked like the next big quarterback. Even before the combine, he was projected to be a high pick.
Kiper went on to say that Richardson needed help with mechanics and that his consistency left a lot to be desired, but that his abilities couldn't be coached.
After the combine, where he set records and turned heads, his stock as a potential first-overall pick rose. Now, Kiper thinks he's the guy the Panthers need to take.
Panthers mock draft: Richardson, Stroud, or Young at number one?
In a draft like this one, the first overall pick comes with a lot of pressure. With three (potentially four with Will Levis) quarterbacks that could go number one, the pressure for the Carolina Panthers to get the right one is high.
They are a team uniquely suited to take Richardson. He's a bit more of a project, but they just hired offensive guru Frank Reich as their head coach and put together a great offensive staff.
Stroud is perhaps the most NFL-ready of the three, so they could take him. He fits the mold of quarterback Reich has worked with before.
Young can't be discounted, either. He's been one of college football's best recently and is a surefire impact player at the NFL level.
