NFL rumors: 5 teams that should trade up to No. 1, and who they should draft

NFL rumors: Carolina Panthers need to be done with quarterback retreads and go draft a star

David Tepper did not buy the Carolina Panthers to go 5-12 every year. While they were better than that last season, it was only possible after kicking Matt Rhule to the curb. Although Steve Wilks made an excellent case to have the interim tag removed, you cannot deny that Tepper made a game-changing hire by getting Frank Reich off the street after the Indianapolis Colts messed up.

The former journeyman backup quarterback threw the first touchdown pass in franchise history way back in 1995. Reich is a good man and has a certain prototype he wants at quarterback. He does not do short guys, so Bryce Young is not coming to Charlotte. Sorry. Although Will Levis could definitely be in play at No. 9 too, Carolina has every reason to get interesting and move up to No. 1.

A big issue the Panthers must overcome is what it will take to move up eight spots in-conference.

Frank Reich does not do short quarterbacks, so C.J. Stroud has to be their guy

Factor in Reich hiring Josh McCown as his quarterbacks coach, and you can understand why Stroud to the Panthers hype train is heating up. Although Houston probably prefers Young over him, Carolina needs to get ahead of Indianapolis at No. 4 and definitely Las Vegas at No. 7 to be in a realistic position to land Stroud. Atlanta passing on him at No. 8 could come back to haunt them…

Ultimately, Carolina is the place where Stroud has the greatest chance of having success in the NFL. The Panthers are not as chaotic as the Colts or Raiders are. Reich is a proven commodity at head coach, now taking over an underrated team in a bad division. Should the Panthers strike gold in trading up for Stroud, they will be a sexy pick to win the NFC South and become the new power.

Stroud will probably be wearing either blue or black in the NFL, so why not wear both in Carolina?

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