Charlotte, North Carolina Local News
A Charlotte bar teased the Panthers about the draft. David Tepper went to the bar
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Dilworth Neighborhood Grille confirmed the interaction with WCNC Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While 29 NFL franchises headed into Thursday with a pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, the owner of the Carolina Panthers was out and about in the Charlotte community.
David Tepper made a stop at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille ahead of the NFL Draft on Thursday, the restaurant confirmed to WCNC Charlotte. Tepper’s motives for going to the bar are not immediately known, but it’s possible that a sign outside of the establishment caught his attention.
The message board outside Dilworth Neighborhood Grille read on Thursday, “Please let the coach & GM pick this year.”
Workers confirmed to WCNC Charlotte that Tepper spoke with the bar’s owner about the sign and discussed the Panthers draft strategy. It’s unclear at this time who the owner advised Tepper to take with the Panthers’ first draft pick, which comes at the top of the second round on Friday.
It’s unclear if Tepper was angry about the message or if he found it humorous.
Carolina traded away its first-round draft pick in Thursday’s draft to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to select quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers followed up that decision with a horrific 2-15 season.
Fans and analysts have questioned Tepper’s overbearing control of the team’s operations. However, Tepper has stated he lets “the football people” make decisions about the team’s direction.
The Panthers head into the 2024 season with their third head coach in three years and a new general manager. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan hope to push Young and the team in the right direction.
UPDATE: The Panthers traded into the first round of the NFL Draft by moving up one spot to select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall pick. Carolina traded away its 33rd pick and a fifth-round pick to move up.
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