North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers are facing a familiar debate as they navigate the 2024 NFL season. While some fans celebrate recent victories against teams like the Saints and Giants, others express concern over potential impacts on their draft position for 2025. This division among supporters echoes a similar situation from the end of the 2002 season.

Back in 2002, the Panthers won four of their last five games, improving their record to 7-9 but dropping to ninth in the draft order. Despite this slip in draft position, the team selected offensive tackle Jordan Gross in the 2003 NFL Draft. Gross became a cornerstone for the franchise, playing 167 games and earning three Pro Bowl selections.

Former Panthers coach John Fox emphasized the value of winning: "This game's only fun when you win," he said. "And those wins meant a lot more to that team than draft order would have."

Current general manager Dan Morgan also supports this perspective. He stated, "I'm a firm believer that what's meant to be is meant to be... I'd much rather win games and go home and be happy."

Despite these endorsements of prioritizing wins over draft positioning, some fans remain skeptical about how recent performances might affect future prospects. One fan expressed on social media: "I am absolutely fine with the team just barely losing... This is the time to get the best positioning in the draft while at the same time making strides on the field."

As history shows with players like Gross, sometimes winning can provide long-term benefits beyond immediate concerns about draft picks.