Say hello to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It wasn't exactly a secret, was it? (Thanks Shams, for the tipped pick!). Now that it's all but official, let's take a closer look at Bryce Young and what makes him so dang special as the Panthers' new franchise quarterback.
Bryce Young: Scouting report
Position: Quarterback
School: Alabama (Senior)
Measurables: 5'10 1/8" (1st percentile), 204 lbs. (6th percentile)
TLDR; If he can't do it as a sub-six-foot quarterback at the professional level, there probably will never be a sub-six-foot quarterback that can pull it off at the professional level. He's special. He makes special plays. He has an innate feel for the game that cannot be taught.
His only knock is his size, which he's not really in a prime spot to improve upon, outside of maybe bulking up his frame. How much will his small frame matter? Only time will tell!
Bryce Young highlights that'll make your jaw drop
Bryce Young fun facts
Bryce Young was a psychology major at Alabama! He follows in the footsteps of his dad, who works as a counselor.
He was also the first Alabama quarterback ever to win college football's most prestigious award — the Heisman Trophy!
If drafted in the first round (he will be), Bryce Young would be the first quarterback under 207 pounds *EVER* to be selected in Round 1. Literally, he'll be making history.
Bryce Young's fit with the Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young's fit with literally any team could be stellar. He's a playmaker, he's a leader, and he's got a feel for the game that is unreal for any quarterback — let alone a 21-year-old.
The biggest issue with Young as a Carolina Panthers feels likely to be the team (and the surrounding cast they put around him. Unfortunately, they traded away D.J. Moore in the package of picks to acquire their franchise quarterback, so there aren't *really* many players left in Charlotte to throw to. Their current depth chart? D.J. Chark, Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall and Hayden Hurst. Not great, Bob!
Don't expect a lot from Young in year one with this surrounding cast... but the future is very, very bright once they manage to get some weapons around him.
Pick Grade: A+ (though, if I'm being honest, the trade-up for him was... questionable)
