The NFL Draft is still a few weeks away but one NFL Insider is already confident in who the Carolina Panthers will select with the No. 1 overall pick.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said on “SportsCenter” Wednesday that he expects the Panthers to select Alabama’s Bryce Young with the first overall pick. Mortensen also agreed with colleague Adam Schefter, who recently compared Carolina’s situation to when the San Francisco 49ers traded up to No. 3 in the draft two years ago.
Per Mort, the 49ers traded up because they wanted Mac Jones. They then changed their minds and took Trey Lance, which has not worked out for them thus far. The Panthers, who “love” Young, do not want to make the same mistake.
“Bryce Young is the pick. … They all love Bryce Young,” Mortensen said. “I think I’ll quote Adam Schefter, who said this reminds him of when the 49ers moved up all the way to No. 3 with intentions of drafting Mac Jones and then changed their minds at the last minute and drafted Trey Lance. That has not worked out for the 49ers. I think the Panthers were on Bryce Young from the start and will stick with him when it’s time to turn in that card.”
The Carolina Panthers traded for the No. 1 pick with the Chicago Bears last month.
