The man who claims to be in on every deal really wants to be in on every deal. Shocker!
In a brief interview released by the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, team reporter Kristen Balboni got into some draft talk with general manager Scott Fitterer. After failing to get Fitterer to reveal who will be the No. 1 overall pick (another shocker), Balboni asked if we’d see some patented wheelin’ and dealin’ from the front office.
“We’re trying to figure that out right now,” he replied. “We’re making calls. We know where the group of players are where we wanna be. There’s a group where we’d wanna go up. There’s a scenario where we’d wanna go up and look at a player—if we can get there.”
This, likely, is in reference to the back of the first round or early second round—where the Panthers hold the 39th overall pick. And that prospective group of players—which is heavy on pass rushers, interior linemen and receivers—will likely include an answer to one of the team’s non-quarterback needs.
That particular need will, obviously, be filled atop the board—where the Panthers are expected to select University of Alabama star Bryce Young. And they’re in that position because of their deal with the Chicago Bears back on March 10—one that may help influence a trade down the queue if they can’t successfully target said group.
“If not, we may move back,” Fitterer then added. “We may go back four, five, six spots, pick up an extra pick. As you know, when you make a trade like we made, you end up using those draft picks. So it’d be nice to recoup some of those if we can.”
Don’t go to sleep too early on Thursday night, Panthers fans.
