Sportsnaut

The Carolina Panthers pulled off one of the biggest draft trades in years, acquiring the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears. It’s the kind of move a franchise makes after years of failed attempts to land a franchise-caliber quarterback. Now, Carolina is in the perfect position to land its face of the organization for years to come. A heavy price must be paid when you want to move up from the first pick to No. 9 overall. Carolina dealt Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Moore, two first-round picks and two second-round selections to Chicago. It dramatically changes the Panthers’ offense and limits their ability to build a great supporting cast around whatever quarterback they pick with the top selection. With that said, everyone knew owner David Tepper wanted to end the years of quarterback purgatory. In a crowded market of suitors, Carolina stepped up and paid the necessary cost to select the player it believes can carry the offense and team for years to come.