CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The 2023 NFL draft is over after three days in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

ESPN has pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Carolina Panthers’ selections:

Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

Round 1, No. 1 overall (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

My take: The Panthers finally got it right. After three years of trying to salvage the careers of retread quarterbacks, they made the right call to build around a rookie. And if you’re bold enough to give up four draft picks and top wide receiver DJ Moore to move from No. 9 to No. 1, then you should be bold enough to take a chance on a 5-foot-10 player who has no obvious flaws outside of his height. Young may be small, but he makes big plays, something the Panthers haven’t consistently had at that position in more than five years. To have taken any other quarterback would have been a mistake.

Will he start as a rookie?: That’s the plan, although adding veteran Andy Dalton in free agency gives Carolina the flexibility to audible if Young isn’t ready. But everything general manager Scott Fitterer has done this offseason, from re-signing center Bradley Bozeman (ensuring all of last season’s line was back) to signing veteran running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst and receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, was done so he could drop a rookie quarterback into the mix and have a chance to succeed. And as Fitterer has said all along, Young has the talent to make it work.

Key stat: Young had the highest Total QBR rating outside the pocket (95.7) in 2022 and ranked first under pressure the past two seasons in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions of 20-plus yards. In other words, Young thrives under pressure and can ad-lib, something the Panthers haven’t had in a long time. They ranked 31st (27.6) and 30th (35.7) in Total QBR the past two seasons with four different players starting at least five games. Young will make mistakes as a rookie, but he also has the ability to make big plays out of nothing.

Round 2, No. 39 overall: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

My take: The Panthers lost a physical receiver in Moore in the trade with Chicago for the No. 1 overall selection. They picked up one in Mingo, a 6-2, 220-pounder who is physical and tough to bring down. He has decent speed to go vertical, but his biggest asset is the ability to make contested catches, something this team has lacked, particularly in the slot, where Mingo is at his best. He’s an above-average blocker who will be key as the Panthers try to build the running game to take pressure off of their rookie quarterback Young. That might be the biggest argument for taking him.

Ties to the team: He was teammates with quarterback Matt Corral, Carolina’s third-round pick last year who spent the season on injured reserve and is danger of not making the roster this season. With Corral in 2021, Mingo had 22 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns but played in only six games due to a fractured foot that required surgery. He had a breakout season after Corral turned pro, catching 51 passes for 861 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Round 3, No. 80 (from Pittsburgh): DJ Johnson, LB, Oregon

My take: Fitterer repeatedly said before the draft he wanted to get an edge rusher. He tried to trade back into the first round to get one and finally moved up in the third round to get Johnson (6-4, 260), who played tight end for Oregon in 2020 before moving back to outside linebacker, where the Ducks called him a “rush backer.’’ He has the size and speed (4.49 40) Carolina wants coming off the edge as they transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. The bull rush is his strength, making him a tough matchup for tight ends trying to protect the quarterback. He’s the type of player the Panthers were looking for to line up opposite Brian Burns.

Will he start as a rookie?: He’ll likely be a rotational player, at least at first while he develops. He is raw and has a high ceiling. Third down might be his specialty initially, as he’s shown the ability to rush and drop into coverage, which makes him ideal for the 3-4. He’ll need to develop more moves as a rusher before he can become an everydown player, but the potential is there.

Round 4, No. 114 overall: Chandler Zavala, Guard, NC State

My take: A solid pickup with starting right guard Austin Corbett rehabbing from ACL surgery that could limit him when training camp opens. He is a polished run blocker, which fits the team’s plan to continue with the power running game it thrived on last season, while Young develops at quarterback. Zavala is sort of a late bloomer, whose development was interrupted by COVID-19 and a back injury that forced him to apply for a medical exemption for a sixth year. Reich expects Corbett to not be ready for camp and miss some time at the start of the season. At 6-3, 322, he has the size to develop into a starter. At worst, he adds much-needed depth for the Panthers.

Round 5, No. 145 overall: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

My take: A little surprised Fitterer didn't trade down for an additional pick here. He didn't because Robinson fills a need for depth at safety, where Jeremy Chinn is expected to play more of a hybrid linebacker role than safety as Carolina transitions to the 3-4 scheme. Robinson can also play nickel, which is another need. What Robinson lacks in size (5-11, 191), he makes up for in power and anticipation of the snap.