The Panthers Journey

[Sarge]

2022 was the inaugural season for simNFL and with it was roughly everyone starting on an even playing field. At the time, Owner/Coach Sarge was also charged with GM duties which initiated some decisions that would create waves across the league many of which are still creating an impact today in the league.

Prior to the draft, Indianapolis and Carolina made a major trade:

Colts send:
2022 #18 Pick (IND)
2023 1st (IND)
2024 1st (IND)

Panthers send:

2022 #3 (CAR)
2023 2nd (CAR)

This would be the beginning of a whirlwind of roster reconstruction. The premise behind this move was to kickstart a rebuild to where Sarge could build the Panthers to his liking after he wasn't quite satisfied with the initial "Player Pool" that he'd been dealt.

Shortly after the Indianapolis trade, Sarge went to work again to move his newly acquired #18 pick.

Commanders send:
2023 1st (WAS)
2023 3rd  (WAS)
2023 6th  (WAS)
2022 6th  (#173) (WAS)
SS Vicente Bugarin

Panthers send:
2022 #18 (CAR)
2022 2nd  (#62) (CAR)

Sarge, now guaranteed with 5 first round picks over the next two years would make another decision that sent the league into a large divide with his next move as he continued to dismantle his roster further for future assets. Many questioned the legitimacy of what the Panthers were doing and how it could define the league later, but with his own goals in mind, Carolina would press forward.

Denver Broncos send:
QB Dekoda Link
OG Patrick Whitaker
OG Juan Colchado
OT Michael Archer
DT Marco Everett
CB Stephen Nelson
WR Kirk Obrien
2023 1st (DEN)
2024 1st (DEN)

Panthers send:
OG David McNeal
WR Ronald Spencer
DE Chad Bruce
SS Vincente Bugarin
CB William Owens
OG Mark Stern
OT Craig Parrish
2023 5th (CAR)
2024 5th (CAR)
CAROLINA RETAINS SALARY

Throughout the 2022 season, smaller moves were made here and there acquiring smaller capital, but by the end of the 2022 season, the Panthers were armed with:

2023 1st (CAR)
2023 1st (IND)
2023 1st (WAS)
2023 1st (DEN)
QB Dekoda Link (who was a first round selection by Denver)

2024 1st (CAR)
2024 1st (IND)
2024 1st (DEN)

And a bare bones roster that Link struggled with initially.

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2023 comes and Sarge, after an excruciating amount of persuasion and begging finally got his man to become his General Manager after dangling the idea of seven first round selections over 2 years in front of him. Enter: Lord @Jambo. Jambo was charged with piloting Carolina through its slew of first round selections in the 2023 draft, taking TE Don Scott, DT Caleb Saurez, FS Zack Trawick and WR Marco Thompson. He also was one of the biggest spenders of the year, immediately reinforcing both lines of scrimmage by signing the consensus best player in FA OG Paul Caruso as well as getting OT Peter Smith, DT Steven Kapfhammer, OLB Michael Naccarato, and DE Eric Stephens. 

LB Michael Naccarato - League Leader in Tackles
DT Steven Kapfhammer - #3 in Tackles for Loss
DE Eric Stephens - Lead team in Sacks (7)

Jambo is calculated, shrewd, and likely the worst thing of all for the rest of the league is being in lock-step with Sarge's vision of roster building. The two both work hand-in-hand with a philosophy focused on the trenches and building outwards. The first time GM Jambo pulled the trade-trigger was on an absolute steal in bringing a true #1 WR to Carolina. Talks with the Minnesota Vikings faltered as Sarge and Jambo watched WR Madden leave for the Commanders but things quickly materialized with Chicago and developed overnight.

Chicago Bears send:
WR Russell Barnes

Carolina Panthers send:
OG Juan Colchado
2023 4th (#101) (CAR)
2025 6th (CAR)

Up until the final weeks, the Panthers were somehow improbably in the hunt for a division title and playoff berth but a few unfortunate closing losses to Division rivals sealed their fate as Carolina and their fans were left to watch from home.

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It's 2024 and we're ramping for the draft and once again Carolina has continued its rebuild well into the future. Another major trade was executed, which took advantage of one made two seasons ago.

New York Jets give:
DE Aaron Stokes (80 OVR / Year 5 / A+ Potential)
2024 1st (#3) (NYJ)
2025 1st (NYJ)
2026 3rd

Carolina Panthers give:
2024 1st (#1) (IND)
2025 3rd
2026 4th

With eyes towards the draft, fans and everyone else in the league wait with their breath held in anticipation of what the "Big Dumb Idiots" in Carolina do next.

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Total Number of 1st Round picks 2022 - 2024
2022 (0 selections made)
2023 (4 selections made, (IND/WAS/DEN/CAR) DT Caleb Suarez, TE Don Scott, FS Zack Trawick, WR Marco Thompson)
2024 (3 current available selections, #3 (NYJ), #5 (CAR), #32 (DEN))
2025 (2 current available, CAR, NYJ)

[Bundy]

Naccarto quickly became the ILB in Minnesota in 2022, so identifying him as a key contributor in FA is such a major get for early Carolina.