Eh, I’m not entirely sold just yet. The Carolina Panthers bet the next 10 years of the franchise’s future on drafting Heisman winner, National Champion, and former Alabama QB Bryce Young 1st overall in the NFL Draft, but can he actually save the franchise from mediocrity?
This is really a make-or-break pick for the current regime of the Carolina Panthers.
After trading their own 2023 1st round pick (9th overall), 2023 2nd round pick (61st overall), a 2024 1st round pick, a 2025 2nd round pick, and WR D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the 1st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers have put all their chips on Bryce Young as they drafted him 1st overall. And, to be honest, I think this could be a fantastic pick…if Young’s body can hold up.
In a mold very similar to Drew Brees, the legendary Saints quarterback the Panthers know all too well, Bryce Young was one of the best (if not the best) quarterbacks in college football these last two seasons as he’s essentially the modern-day Drew Bress. A highly intelligent, undersized, extremely accurate quarterback with fantastic arm-strength and precision, but who can also rush the ball when absolutely necessary.
In fact, he’s posted an average 65.7% completion percentage, 8,200 passing yards, 79 passing TDs, just 12 interceptions, 8.8 yards/attempt, 611 completed passes, and average QB rating of 165.35, 130 rushing attempts, 185 rushing yards, 7 rushing TDS, he reached the 2022 National Championship game as the Alabama starter (lost 33-18 to Georgia), was named the 2021 SEC Player of the Year, the 2021 AP Best College Player of the Year, the 2021 Davey O’Brien Award winner (best college QB), the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, and won the Sugar Bowl 42-20 over Kansas State this past season.
Oh, and he also was the backup on the 2020 National Championship-winning Alabama roster.
Simply put, Bryce Young is one of the best QB talents to come out of the draft in a long time, and the Panthers were smart to choose him with the NFC in its current deflated state.
With Rodgers now officially a New York Jet, the best four quarterbacks in the NFC are now Jalen Hurts (valid Top-4 member), Dak Prescott (not so valid, but I guess I have to include him), Matthew Stafford (if he’s healthy), and maybe Geno Smith or Derek Carr. Clearly, aside from Hurts and Stafford if healthy, there’s very few QBs in the NFC that can compare to the talent Bryce Young brings to the NFC.
I’m not trying to disrespect these proven NFL veterans, but the best QBs in the league are simply in the AFC as Patrick Mahomes (KC Chiefs), Joe Burrow (Bengals), Josh Allen (Bills), Aaron Rodgers (Jets), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Trevor Lawarence (Jaguars), Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), Justin Herbert (LA Chargers), Russell Wilson (Broncos), Deshaun Watson (Browns), C.J. Stroud (drafted by the Texans 2nd overall), Kenny Pickett (Steelers) and Jimmy Garoppolo (LV Raiders) all are set to suit up for their, respective, AFC team next season.
That’s insane!
So, when you see the offseason moves the Panthers have made in preparation for drafting Young, such as hiring QB guru Frank Reich as HC, signing Adam Thielen (70 REC, 706 yards, 6 TDs), Hayden Hurst (52 REC, 414 yards, 2 TDs), Miles Sanders (259 CAR, 1,269 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 50 REC, 509 receiving yards, 3 TDs), D.J. Chark (30 REC, 502 yards, 3 TDs), and drafting Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo and NC State G Chandler Zavala this year, it’s not hard to envision the Panthers winning the NFC South and making a good playoff run.
However, the only thing I’m super nervous about with Young is his size.
He’s only 5′ 10″ and 194 lbs., making him as one of the smallest QBs in the league, and he’ll be facing off against 6’5, 245 lbs. defensive ends and 6’2, 215 lbs. linebackers. As we’ve seen with another small Alabama QB in Tua Tagovailoa, it only takes 1-2 good hits from these massive defenders to really cause serious damage to the body as Tua’s career is in jeopardy if he suffers another concussion from a sack.
I really hope this doesn’t turn out to be a massive issue as Young’s style of QB is one of my favorite, but I have a feeling it might be.
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