In what looks to be signaling a shift, Bryce Young is looking like a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall now. Although C.J. Stroud continues to be the leadoff man in the major mock drafts, Young-Panthers links are multiplying.
Even as Panthers-Stroud connections persist, Frank Reich-driven height concerns re: Young might be overblown. Carolina’s trade-up may have been Young-centered all along, with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen indicating during a recent TV appearance (h/t Panthers On Tap) the Alabama prospect will likely be the No. 1 overall pick.
A report from longtime NFL insider Peter King revealed Young has plenty of support in Carolina’s building, and Mortensen confirms the Panthers are big fans of the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. While Young’s 5-foot-10 stature and slender frame has injected uncertainty into an otherwise standout prospect’s viability, he displayed high-level accuracy and pocket movement during a dominant two-year run as the Crimson Tide’s starter.
Young is set to become the third straight Alabama starting quarterback to be a first-round pick, and he will undoubtedly be selected higher than Tua Tagovailoa (No. 5) and Mac Jones (15) were in their respective drafts. Mortensen also likened this Panthers situation to the 49ers’ 2021 process, doubling down on the notion San Francisco indeed had Jones in mind when it traded up nine spots to No. 3 that year. The 49ers’ course change to Trey Lance is close to being viewed as one of the bigger draft missteps — considering what the team gave up to obtain that pick — in recent draft history, and Mortensen said the Panthers should be expected to stick with their initial preference (Young) instead of going through with a size-based Stroud pivot.
Young would obviously bring a considerably different type of QB into the building compared to the last time Carolina selected a passer at No. 1. At 6-3 and 214 pounds, Stroud is also not especially close to Cam Newton here (6-5, 245). Reich has been mentioned as preferring big-frame QBs, but this will be his first significant draft choice at the position as a head coach. Though, he was the Eagles’ OC when they traded up for the 6-5 Carson Wentz in 2016. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer was with the Seahawks when they drafted Russell Wilson. While drafting a quarterback 75th overall is rather different than a No. 1 pick, Fitterer has obviously seen a short quarterback enjoy tremendous success up close.
Reich and Fitterer have brought several Panthers staffers into this process, and the new HC is not viewed as likely to overturn a consensus. The Panthers taking this route would leave Stroud on the board for the Texans, who have been more connected to Young during the pre-draft process. Stroud met with the Texans on Wednesday.
Stroud > Levis > Young > Richardson
Levis better than Young and Richardson? Don’t make me laugh.
Have you watched Richardson actually play? He’s horrible. Levi’s is miles better than Richardson.
We will see what NFL evaluators think! I’ll bet a dollar to donuts that Richardson is selected before Levis. Levis might be better today, but Richardson has a higher ceiling.
I don’t know about a higher ceiling. They both have higher ceilings then around n young but are also way way way more likely busts.
The Levis comp is josh Allen but who knows, he could be teebow. The Richardson comp is maybe prime cam. But he could easily be Brett Huntley, the pro bowl one lol
Is that a cross between Brett Hundley and Tyler Huntley?
Levis is Richardson without the upside. Don’t see the appeal
Next up: “Panthers Leaning Toward Will Levis?” Just keep guessing…
Don’t believe a damn thing put out right now.
Carolina is more than willing to trade that pick to any team that feels there is a slight chance to lose a player they covet. I would also bet that the team willing to trade up is not mentioned in any article, tweet, or official insider rumor.
Doesn’t matter, most 1st round qb’s, especially #1 I overall, are a bust. One or two, at most, make it big this draft. Wouldn’t be surprised if none make it.
That is true!! You are way more likely to have just drafted Josh Rosen than Patrick Mahomes.
So hilarious to watch people scream at others over their own personal evaluations. Let’s face it, the ONLY evaluations that matter are those employed by NFL teams (sorry Kiper, love ya tho). And those guys get it wrong more than right. So who knows. 1 thing is for certain tho. Young is too small to be a real NFL QB. AND YOURE IGNORANT IF YOU DISAGREE!!
Russell wilson played at an mvp level for 8 years + before the broncos trade. Hes shorter than young. In the right system shorter guys can be great. Now personally i like stroud better for reasons that have nothing to do with height. More accurate, better reads and can drop a ball in a bucket at 60+yards
Wilson was built like a locomotive though, thick muscular body. Young will be good. How long will he last? RGIII lasted one (great) season.
Hate to upset you size queens but the most talented QB in the draft, Bryce Young is the pick.
I don’t think any of them are locks to be great NFL Quarterbacks. As it stands, Richardson has the most upside- but he has the biggest bust potential. All these clubs that are scrambling to draft one of these guys speaks to the desperation teams feel when they don’t have an answer at the position. I think this QB class is one where you let the board come to you, and you don’t force it.
Anthony Richardson is Jameis Winston without the Heismann and without the accuracy (sarc).
I kind of feel for Anthony Richardson. Kind of feels like the Raiders are beginning to fall in lust with the young man, and that is a career killer. The book on Richardson reads an awful lot like Akili Smith.
Outside of Carr, the Raiders do not have a great history in QB development. I do not have a lot of faith in Josh McHoodie and his ability to work with others.
As a Texans fan I hope we take Anderson Jr with the 2nd pick.
Mills is not the answer – so are you saying it is better to build some depth – but stink again, and get another high pick in 2023?
Pretty sure we’re going to stink again no matter what.
Looks like the consensus is that none of these QBs should be the first pick in the draft – but of course one of them WILL be.
Personally I would choose Young, as he has a natural feel for the game that all those big robotic types don’t. Stroud had one (1) game where he left the system behind, while the other two never did. Maybe they can be developed, but I suspect they will always be nothing more than human jugs guns.
I always like where the ‘experts’ say look at Stroud vs UGA last year. OK 1 game. What about the other 2 years of games? UM owned OSU twice last year and the games weren’t even close.
History says two of the four QBs taken early will be a bust. And chances are it’s not so much the skill set as it is the position they’re out in. Better coaching, o-line and time to learn will be a better indicator of who is successful, in my opinion.