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"Experts" mock drafts after the big 3 QB Pro Day's

The big 3 QB's Pro Day's are now complete, so let's take a look at how the so-called experts feel about the 2023 NFL draft and who they are projecting to our beloved Carolina Panthers.

NFL.COM

Chad Rueter

C.J. Stroud

Ohio State · QB · Sophomore (RS)

New head coach Frank Reich worked with pocket passers in Philadelphia and Indianapolis, from Carson Wentz to Andrew Luck to Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers to Wentz again to Matt Ryan. Stroud is an accurate thrower behind the line and strong within the pocket, but he also flashes the mobility to make defenses pay for not spying him in man coverage.

CBS Sports

Tom Fornelli

C.J. Stroud QB

OHIO STATE • JR • 6'3" / 214 LBS

OK, so I don't actually know which QBs will go with the first two picks, but Frank Reich's history leads me to believe Stroud will be his preferred choice. Stroud isn't the fastest QB in this class. He doesn't have the strongest arm in this class. He's not the best improviser in this class. But he's the best pure passer in this class by a mile.

As an aside, Ryan Wilson, Josh Edwards, and Chris Stackpole, whoever the hell they are, all have the Panthers drafting Bryce Young.

Walter Football

Walter

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The Panthers need a franchise quarterback, which is obviously why they traded up to No. 1. They didn't want to settle for the third or fourth option in this class. Instead, they surrendered D.J. Moore and a package of picks to move up for the signal-caller of their choice. That's likely to be Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, though I wouldn't completely rule out Anthony Richardson. I'd say it's Stroud for now, but it's definitely close between him and Young. Stroud completed 71 percent of his passes this past season. He's a lethal passer, and as we saw in the college football semi-final, he can run if he needs to with his 4.65 speed.

Fox Sports

Chad Auman

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

With two seasons in which he accounted for 40-plus touchdown passes, each with only six interceptions, all under a national spotlight, Stroud has put himself in position to be the logical top pick. He has a larger body of work than Florida's Anthony Richardson, and frankly, a larger body than Alabama's Bryce Young. Stroud's 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame is closer to what coach Frank Reich has worked with.

Carolina has Andy Dalton if Stroud isn't ready right away, but this feels like the last three quarterbacks to go No. 1 — Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray were polished enough to play from the very first snap as the face of a franchise. The Panthers gave up a ton for the right to own this draft, and there will be plenty of due diligence in the next month, but the simplest answer is still Stroud.

ESPN

Mel "Frankenstien's Monster" Kiper Jr.

C.J. Stroud | QB | R-Soph. | Ohio State

Todd McShay

Bryce Young | QB | Jr. | Alabama

These are some of the bigger outlets for mainstream sports, and as you can see, it's still pretty much split between these "EXPERTS" who will be the Panthers new QB with Stroud holding a slim 5-4 lead.

This is one of the biggest decisions in Carolina franchise history, so let's just hope they draft CJ Stroud, I mean, make the right choice and chose the best QB for the next decade plus.

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