Multiple sources report  the "sense around the league" is that the Panthers moved up for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

That said, the Panthers themselves have made it clear they will continue to keep all options on the table as they now control the top of this year's NFL draft. There are still six weeks before the Panthers will find themselves on the clock, and free agency could see multiple dominoes fall at the quarterback position, but the Panthers now find themselves in control for one of the better quarterback prospects in recent memory.

Stroud is the best guess because he would seem to have the best balance of size, talent, and big game experience.  Alabama's Bryce Young is a former Heisman winner but some teams are concerned about his size.  Kentucky's Will Levis has a cannon for an arm but did not stand out at the Combine.  Florida's Anthony Richardson blew up the Combine, on the other hand, and may have the highest ceiling of all the top four QBs but started only one year in college and is by far the rawest of the four.

After giving up a robust package to move from the ninth pick to the 1.01, it appears clear the organization knows exactly the route they want to go to set themselves up for the future.  That route could change over the next six weeks.