Entering the 2023 season the Panthers were beginning Year Five of a meandering, frustrating “rebuild to nowhere”. Since 2019 the team’s starting quarterbacks had been Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield, not exactly a solid foundation upon which to build.
By trading up to draft Bryce Young No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft and bringing in a new coaching staff led by Frank Reich, the Panthers front office commenced a new rebuild on top of the old rebuild. This new rebuild would take another three to four years given all of the new faces in Charlotte and the assets Carolina gave up to select Young first overall.