Panthers keeping ‘tunnel vision’ in QB evaluation process

The process of coming to a decision atop the 2023 NFL draft will eventually be a collaborative one for the Carolina Panthers. But for now, everyone is keeping to themselves.

NFL Network reporter Bridget Condon dished out details on the braintrust’s approach in finding a new franchise quarterback. As she stated on Monday’s episode of NFL Now, key decision makers for the team will continue to evaluate the prospects on their own and will then come together to form a choice some time before the night of April 27.

“But something that’s interesting—based on conversations that I’ve been having—is they’re keeping tunnel vision between everybody in the front office,” Condon said. “They’re trying not to talk to each other right now about who they like best. They wanna bring these guys in and keep tunnel vision, write their own notes, not let anything sway their decision. And then, in two to three weeks before the draft, really get together and say, ‘This guy is my favorite. This is why.’

“And of course they have a hunch of who they all like. But right now—it’s do your due diligence, keep an open mind as best you can and then we’ll see . . . “

NBC Sports’ Peter King wrote as much in his recent “Football Morning in America” column. He noted that even if head coach Frank Reich were to favor a different quarterback from the front office’s consensus, that Reich would willingly concede for the greater good.

The Panthers now have a little over three weeks to get to that final stage.