What does a Frank Reich QB look like? Potential options for Panthers in 2023 NFL Draft
The Carolina Panthers on Thursday announced that they have hired Frank Reich to take over as their head coach. The Panthers fired Matt Rhule midway through the season before naming Steve Wilks their interim head coach. Wilks helped improve the team during his short stint, but failed to secure a long-term position.
Reich has spent the last five years as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He was fired during this season. Reich recorded three winning seasons and made two appearances in the playoffs with the Colts. Just a few months after being released, he's landed another head-coaching job.
The #Panthers are hiring former #Colts coach Frank Reich as their new head coach, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. The organization’s first QB, he now becomes their coach. https://t.co/M0vIee9ZtK
The biggest question now surrounding the Panthers is centered around their quarterback situation. This is also likely one of the main reasons why they chose to hire Reich. He's a former quarterback and has developed a reputation for coaching the position exceptionally well. He should be able to help stabilize this position that they have struggled to solve lately.
Sam Darnold is set to become a free agent, so the Panthers are expected to be in the market for a quarterback. Hiring Reich may give a bit of an insight as to the style of quarterback the Panthers will be seeking.
During his stints as an offensive coordinator and head coach, Frank Reich has often used a relatively similar style of quarterback. His first job as offensive coordinator was with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he worked with Philip Rivers. He then served in the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reich was part of the coaching staff that decided to draft Carson Wentz and helped him record the best season of his career. He also helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl with Nick Foles after Wentz got hurt. This is a big reason why he was hired to be the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
When Frank Reich took the job with the Colts, he was expecting to have Andrew Luck in the prime of his career. But things suddenly changed when Luck shockingly retired early, so Reich only coached him for one season.
The next four years presented a struggle to find a solution at quarterback. He tried again with Wentz and Rivers, while also experimenting with Jacoby Brissett and Matt Ryan, among others, but ultimately failed to find a long-term answer.
All of the quarterbacks Reich has worked with all have a somewhat similar style. Reich seems to target quarterbacks who are primarily pocket passers with a focus on accuracy over throwing power. He hasn't appeared to make mobility a priority, but tends to attract more towards the traditional style of quarterbacks.
This trend may suggest that the Panthers will be seeking a similar option this offseason. While they can surely explore the trade market and free agency, the 2023 draft may be their best opportunity to start fresh and finally find their quarterback of the future.
Frank Reich should look to the 2023 NFL draft to find a franchise QB for the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers hold the ninth pick in the 2023 draft. They are in a prime position to target a quarterback in a class that is loaded with promising prospects at the position.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are considered by most around the NFL to be the top two prospects in the draft this year. If the Panthers are unable to land one of them, the third quarterback on most draft boards seems to be an ideal fit for Frank Reich.
Will Levis seems to profile the style of quarterback that Reich normally targets. He's primarily a pocket passer, but has enough mobility to scramble when necessary. Accuracy and ball placement are some of his strengths, which fits with other quarterbacks Reich has chosen to work with.
Levis seems to fit well with his philosophy and will likely be available when the Panthers are on the clock. If he isn't, Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker are some of the other options in the first round.