The Carolina Panthers obviously have someone to turn to for the present and beyond in No. 1 overall selection Bryce Young. But also in that same quarterback room? The Panthers have a passer they can look to who’s backed up past No. 1 overall picks before in case Young and QB2 Andy Dalton go down: Jake Luton.
Jake Luton Has Played With Past First Overall Picks
Luton is a four-year veteran who is now on his fifth NFL franchise. While he’s in a building with the 2023 No. 1 pick, it’s not Luton’s first time being around a top selection.
In 2022, he was briefly with the 2021 NFL Draft’s top pick Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was also the team Luton began his career with as a sixth-round selection in the 2020 draft — one year before Lawrence arrived. Luton was eventually cut on Aug. 31, 2021, to fulfill the 53-man roster rule.
After a brief stop with the Seattle Seahawks, Luton managed to latch on with the Miami Dolphins in November 2021 — where he was around another first-rounder in 2020 No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa.
But on Feb. 11, 2022, he returned to the Jags by signing a reserve/futures contract. He was eventually waived before the 53-man roster cutdown.
After suiting up for the New Orleans Saints, who have 2015 No. 1 overall selection Jameis Winston, Luton eventually found his way over to Charlotte with Young, Dalton, and Co.
So in total, Luton has played behind three different passers who were taken first overall.
Luton’s last NFL regular-season action was during his rookie year in Jacksonville. He went 0-3 as a starter and completed 54.5% of his throws, tossing two touchdowns and six interceptions.
Luton Once Played for Former NFL Coach Around 2 Pro Bowl WR Talents
Turns out Luton was a well-traveled QB even before playing for multiple NFL teams.
Following a stellar football and baseball career at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in the state of Washington, Luton first signed his National Letter of Intent to the University of Idaho. However, he announced his departure from the Vandals in June 2016.
His first taste of being around someone with NFL ties was at Ventura College in Southern California. Pirates head coach Steve Mooshagian wasn’t just a longtime FBS coach; he was one of the first wide receiver coaches for a young T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Coach Moose was with both receivers in their first two NFL seasons.
Luton would re-establish himself as a national recruit by throwing for 3,551 yards and 40 touchdowns. That production was enough for Oregon State to lure him in.
In Corvallis, Luton totaled 42 touchdown passes and 5,227 yards in three seasons for the Beavers. Included in that production was his 28-touchdown and three-interception season in 2019 that catapulted him into NFL conversations.
Now, Luton remains an option while being with his third NFL team featuring a past No. 1 overall pick. Luton was a late addition to the Panthers on July 29 during the first week of training camp. He was not on the field during Carolina’s 27-0 preseason loss to the New York Jets.