“It’s quite uncommon for a team to find themselves with the first overall pick immediately after securing their cornerstone quarterback, but that’s precisely where the Carolina Panthers would’ve been if they hadn’t traded away their top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears.

In hindsight, retaining their first-round pick might have been a wiser move for the Panthers. It would have given them the opportunity to select Caleb Williams instead of Bryce Young, with Williams being widely regarded as a superior prospect to the former Alabama QB.

Unfortunately, we can’t rewrite history, and based on their recent struggles, it seems neither David Tepper nor the Carolina Panthers possess time-travel capabilities.

Tepper assumed ownership of the team in July 2018, following a playoff appearance with an 11-5 record. However, since then, the Panthers have failed to come close to replicating that success, managing only seven wins in their best-performing seasons of 2018 and 2022. Their record stands at a dismal 31-68 under Tepper’s ownership, equating to a mere 31.3% win rate – far from sufficient for competitiveness, even within the struggling NFC South division. So, when Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer was recently asked to pinpoint the NFL’s worst-managed franchise, it was unsurprising to see him single out the Carolina Panthers.”

“I think right now, based on the past five years or so, it’d have to be the Carolina Panthers. They’ve been among the 10 worst teams in the league the past five consecutive years. They fired three coaches, all in-season, over that stretch. They’ve traded their three best players of that period—Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Brian Burns—and gone through significant turnover in the front office. And the constant there is owner David Tepper, who went 7–9 his first year, 2018, and has failed to match even that since.”

Albert Breer on Carolina Panthers being NFL’s worst-run franchise

Panthers fans have endured a prolonged period of watching their team being dominated by opponents. Yet, with a hefty investment of over $100 million in acquiring free agents, there’s optimism that Coach Dave Canales can orchestrate a swift reversal of fortunes. Additionally, the 2024 NFL Draft is expected to infuse the roster with more talent, even though the team lacks a first-round pick.