Young was a starter for two years at Alabama and finished his college career with 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 as the best player in college football and led the Crimson Tide to the National Championship game in the same year.

Despite being considered the best player in the 2023 class, Young wasn’t a consensus favorite of the No. 1 pick. Analysts recognized that he has all the skills needed for the QB position but were unimpressed with his size (5 ft 10 in and 204 lb) and how it will translate to the highest level.

But it turns out that neither the Panthers nor their head coach Frank Reich thinks the lack of size will pose an issue for Young in the pros.

“You just watched the tape. There’s a lot said about the size. At the end of the day, there are a lot of factors that go into it. But we’re coaches; we’re scouts. We watched the tape. And when you watch the tape, Bryce Young is the best player, “said Reich after the pick was made.

Two more quarterbacks were drafted in the Top 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s C. J. Stroud was selected second overall by the Houston Texans, while the Indianapolis Colts took Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick.

The post Panthers Draft Alabama’s QB Bryce Young With the No.1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Upon his arrival in North Carolina, Clark is expected to pair up with Adam Thielen, the veteran free agent who the Panthers signed on a three-year deal. The pairing is expected to help the Panthers fill the void left behind by 2018 first-round pick DJ Moore, who departed for the Chicago Bears in exchange for a first-round draft pick.

Clark, who spent the 2022 season with the Detroit Lions, proved to be a major asset for the Lions, averaging 16.7 yards per catch in 11 games. A clear vertical threat, Clark also caught 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 season.

Overall, Clark has 177 receptions for 2,544 yards and 18 touchdowns throughout his career. He was also a Pro Bowl selection in 2019.

The post Panthers Reach Agreement With Wide Receiver DJ Clark appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Chicago will receive Carolina’s first-round selection at No. 9, the number 61 second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round selection.

Since last week’s scouting combine, an array of NFL teams have expressed an interest in reaching a deal with the Bears to get their hands on this season’s number-one draft pick. While the Houston Texans were vocal about their intent, it was the Panthers who made the first move, reaching out to the Bears during the combine in order to find out about the chances of a trade.

According to one source, the Panthers were eager to secure the prime draft pick after identifying two quarterbacks whom they wanted to get their hands on.

The post Bears Trade Number One Overall Pick to Panthers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reich, who was the Panthers’ first quarterback when they started playing in 1995, was previously the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts; a position he was dismissed from in November. He becomes the sixth head coach in the Panthers’ history as well as the first one to be offensive-minded.

Panthers owner David Teper chose Reich after conducting a search that came up with nine candidates, including interim head coach Steve Wilks and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Ultimately, Teper favored Reich’s offensive-mindedness over Wilks, who has more experience in defense. Reich’s involvement in offensive calls is expected to largely depend on who he hires as an offensive coordinator.

Seven of the nine candidates had offensive backgrounds, with the team prioritizing solving its quarterback problem. The team’s offensive line has been in decline since quarterback Cam Newton experienced shoulder problems in 2018.

The post Carolina Panthers Set to Hire Frank Reich as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“This is a tough business,” Wilks said following the announcement. “Sitting in this seat, it was a tough decision on my part, but something I felt like was the best move for the team moving forward.”

According to Wilks, the decision to cut Mayfield from the team was reached by way of mutual agreement. For Mayfield, the decision to agree to the waiver came after he learned that he would not be used as a starter nor as a backup going forward this season.

Following Mayfield’s departure, the Panthers will have to choose between Sam Darnold and PJ Walker to replace Mayfield at quarterback. Darnold is largely expected to start the Panthers’ upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Now, Mayfield will be available on waivers to each of the other 31 NFL teams until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Potential suitors for Mayfield include the San Francisco 49ers, whose first-choice quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is out for the season due to a broken ankle, and the Baltimore Ravens, who could be without Lamar Jackson for a few weeks.

The post Panthers Waive Quarterback Baker Mayfield appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Barkov also missed out on the game against the Dallas Stars last week, however, he was able to participate in the three games leading up to the St. Louis Blues game. In addition, the Panthers captain was also reported to have been absent from practice on Friday and Saturday due to what Maurice labeled as residual effects of his illness.

“The moment he feels ready, we’ll get him on the trip,” Maurice assured the media. “He has seen all the people he has needed to see and it is precautionary as well. We just don’t want to put him on an airplane where his illness is at right now.”

Without Barkov, Florida has struggled to find their form, losing five of their last seven games. Currently, the Panthers sit in 5th place in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division, winning 10 of their opening 21 games.

The post Barkov to Miss Start of Panthers’ Road Trip appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following the move, the team’s head coach Matt Rhule issued a statement in which he confirmed that he was the one who decided to let Brady go.

“I’m very grateful to him for his time and effort in helping us get established over this past year and a half,” Rhule added.

Carolina is currently ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring, managing 19.7 points per game. The offense also ranks 28th in yards per game, generating just 308.7 yards on average in 2021. This, combined with three losses in the past four games, prompted Rhule to make a surprising move to keep Panthers’ postseason hopes alive.

The Panthers opted not to hire a new offensive coordinator to replace Brady and will instead turn to a committee approach. According to the team, senior offensive assistant Jeff Nixon will take on the OC duties with the rest of the offensive coaching staff also providing input.

Joe Brady was one of the most sought-after young coaches in football after helping the LSU Tigers to win the national championship as their passing game coordinator in 2020. Brady had multiple jobs on the table after that but opted to join Rhule in Carolina. The Panthers finished 5-11 in Brady’s first year, ranking 21st in total yards per game and 24th in points per game.

The post Panthers Part Ways with Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Panthers’ decision comes after the team suffered four straight losses which brought them down to 5-7 record and far away from playoffs. Rivera was in his ninth year as Carolina’s coach.

“I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” said Panthers owner David Tepper in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.”

This comes just days after Rivera brushed off the questions about his job status and said that he isn’t “worried” about his future with the organization. The 57-year-old was on a hot seat for some time now, but it is believed that Sunday’s embarrassing loss to Washington Redskins, who had just two wins entering the game, eventually sealed Rivera’s faith.

During his nine years with the franchise, Ron Rivera posted 76-63-1 record, being the coach with most wins in Carolina Panthers’ history. He led the team to four playoff appearances and made it to Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 NFL season. Rivera has also won two Coach of the Year awards.

Just like Carolina will begin their search for a new head coach, Rivera will also immediately start seeking another opportunity. He told the media on Wednesday that he will coach again and doesn’t intend to have a long break.

“My intent is to coach again,” Rivera said. “I love coaching. Not just coaching because it’s about winning football games, but coaching because you have an opportunity to impact young men and people. And that’s what I want to do.”

The post Panthers Have Fired Head Coach Ron Rivera appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Young was a starter for two years at Alabama and finished his college career with 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 as the best player in college football and led the Crimson Tide to the National Championship game in the same year.

Despite being considered the best player in the 2023 class, Young wasn’t a consensus favorite of the No. 1 pick. Analysts recognized that he has all the skills needed for the QB position but were unimpressed with his size (5 ft 10 in and 204 lb) and how it will translate to the highest level.

But it turns out that neither the Panthers nor their head coach Frank Reich thinks the lack of size will pose an issue for Young in the pros.

“You just watched the tape. There’s a lot said about the size. At the end of the day, there are a lot of factors that go into it. But we’re coaches; we’re scouts. We watched the tape. And when you watch the tape, Bryce Young is the best player, “said Reich after the pick was made.

Two more quarterbacks were drafted in the Top 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s C. J. Stroud was selected second overall by the Houston Texans, while the Indianapolis Colts took Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick.

The post Panthers Draft Alabama’s QB Bryce Young With the No.1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Upon his arrival in North Carolina, Clark is expected to pair up with Adam Thielen, the veteran free agent who the Panthers signed on a three-year deal. The pairing is expected to help the Panthers fill the void left behind by 2018 first-round pick DJ Moore, who departed for the Chicago Bears in exchange for a first-round draft pick.

Clark, who spent the 2022 season with the Detroit Lions, proved to be a major asset for the Lions, averaging 16.7 yards per catch in 11 games. A clear vertical threat, Clark also caught 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 season.

Overall, Clark has 177 receptions for 2,544 yards and 18 touchdowns throughout his career. He was also a Pro Bowl selection in 2019.

The post Panthers Reach Agreement With Wide Receiver DJ Clark appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Chicago will receive Carolina’s first-round selection at No. 9, the number 61 second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round selection.

Since last week’s scouting combine, an array of NFL teams have expressed an interest in reaching a deal with the Bears to get their hands on this season’s number-one draft pick. While the Houston Texans were vocal about their intent, it was the Panthers who made the first move, reaching out to the Bears during the combine in order to find out about the chances of a trade.

According to one source, the Panthers were eager to secure the prime draft pick after identifying two quarterbacks whom they wanted to get their hands on.

The post Bears Trade Number One Overall Pick to Panthers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reich, who was the Panthers’ first quarterback when they started playing in 1995, was previously the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts; a position he was dismissed from in November. He becomes the sixth head coach in the Panthers’ history as well as the first one to be offensive-minded.

Panthers owner David Teper chose Reich after conducting a search that came up with nine candidates, including interim head coach Steve Wilks and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Ultimately, Teper favored Reich’s offensive-mindedness over Wilks, who has more experience in defense. Reich’s involvement in offensive calls is expected to largely depend on who he hires as an offensive coordinator.

Seven of the nine candidates had offensive backgrounds, with the team prioritizing solving its quarterback problem. The team’s offensive line has been in decline since quarterback Cam Newton experienced shoulder problems in 2018.

The post Carolina Panthers Set to Hire Frank Reich as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“This is a tough business,” Wilks said following the announcement. “Sitting in this seat, it was a tough decision on my part, but something I felt like was the best move for the team moving forward.”

According to Wilks, the decision to cut Mayfield from the team was reached by way of mutual agreement. For Mayfield, the decision to agree to the waiver came after he learned that he would not be used as a starter nor as a backup going forward this season.

Following Mayfield’s departure, the Panthers will have to choose between Sam Darnold and PJ Walker to replace Mayfield at quarterback. Darnold is largely expected to start the Panthers’ upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Now, Mayfield will be available on waivers to each of the other 31 NFL teams until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Potential suitors for Mayfield include the San Francisco 49ers, whose first-choice quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is out for the season due to a broken ankle, and the Baltimore Ravens, who could be without Lamar Jackson for a few weeks.

The post Panthers Waive Quarterback Baker Mayfield appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Barkov also missed out on the game against the Dallas Stars last week, however, he was able to participate in the three games leading up to the St. Louis Blues game. In addition, the Panthers captain was also reported to have been absent from practice on Friday and Saturday due to what Maurice labeled as residual effects of his illness.

“The moment he feels ready, we’ll get him on the trip,” Maurice assured the media. “He has seen all the people he has needed to see and it is precautionary as well. We just don’t want to put him on an airplane where his illness is at right now.”

Without Barkov, Florida has struggled to find their form, losing five of their last seven games. Currently, the Panthers sit in 5th place in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division, winning 10 of their opening 21 games.

The post Barkov to Miss Start of Panthers’ Road Trip appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following the move, the team’s head coach Matt Rhule issued a statement in which he confirmed that he was the one who decided to let Brady go.

“I’m very grateful to him for his time and effort in helping us get established over this past year and a half,” Rhule added.

Carolina is currently ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring, managing 19.7 points per game. The offense also ranks 28th in yards per game, generating just 308.7 yards on average in 2021. This, combined with three losses in the past four games, prompted Rhule to make a surprising move to keep Panthers’ postseason hopes alive.

The Panthers opted not to hire a new offensive coordinator to replace Brady and will instead turn to a committee approach. According to the team, senior offensive assistant Jeff Nixon will take on the OC duties with the rest of the offensive coaching staff also providing input.

Joe Brady was one of the most sought-after young coaches in football after helping the LSU Tigers to win the national championship as their passing game coordinator in 2020. Brady had multiple jobs on the table after that but opted to join Rhule in Carolina. The Panthers finished 5-11 in Brady’s first year, ranking 21st in total yards per game and 24th in points per game.

The post Panthers Part Ways with Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Panthers’ decision comes after the team suffered four straight losses which brought them down to 5-7 record and far away from playoffs. Rivera was in his ninth year as Carolina’s coach.

“I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” said Panthers owner David Tepper in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.”

This comes just days after Rivera brushed off the questions about his job status and said that he isn’t “worried” about his future with the organization. The 57-year-old was on a hot seat for some time now, but it is believed that Sunday’s embarrassing loss to Washington Redskins, who had just two wins entering the game, eventually sealed Rivera’s faith.

During his nine years with the franchise, Ron Rivera posted 76-63-1 record, being the coach with most wins in Carolina Panthers’ history. He led the team to four playoff appearances and made it to Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 NFL season. Rivera has also won two Coach of the Year awards.

Just like Carolina will begin their search for a new head coach, Rivera will also immediately start seeking another opportunity. He told the media on Wednesday that he will coach again and doesn’t intend to have a long break.

“My intent is to coach again,” Rivera said. “I love coaching. Not just coaching because it’s about winning football games, but coaching because you have an opportunity to impact young men and people. And that’s what I want to do.”

The post Panthers Have Fired Head Coach Ron Rivera appeared first on yoursportspot.com.