Getting to know the Panthers’ No. 1 overall pick and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young
Having been highly favored to go at No. 1, the ‘Red Tide’ quarterback certainly didn’t surprise anyone with his selection, but he did make history with it.
Whether you think he’s too small or takes too many risks, the fact remains that Alabama’s signal caller is now the No. 1 player in the country out of the 2023 NFL Draft. With that, it’s time to take a look at just what that means here and now and what it could mean going forward.
Bryce Young’s historic selection at No. 1
If you missed it, then let us be the first to tell you that Alabama quarterback, Bryce Young, has been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. What that means, is that Young becomes the first Crimson Tide player to be selected as such in the common era of the NFL Draft which began in 1967. To be clear, Young was selected by the Carolina Panthers, who just last month finalized a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire the No. 1 selection in this year’s Draft.
In terms of history, Young now surpasses former Crimson Tide linebacker Cornelius Bennett, who was selected second overall in 1987 by the Indianapolis Colts and as such previously held the top-spot for all-time Draft selections out of Alabama. Defensive lineman Quinnen Williams (2019), running back Trent Richardson (2012), defensive lineman Marcell Dareus (2011) and offensive lineman Chris Samuels (2000) were all selected third in their respective draft classes.
Does Bryce Young have what it takes?
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, let’s deal with what we know to be true. Young is the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, a feat he accomplished in 2021. During that campaign, he threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns on the way to a Crimson Tide SEC title and a place in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Unfortunately, their division rivals Georgia would get the better of them, but Young’s mark had clearly been made. In keeping with that, he can now be counted among an elite group of Heisman-winning quarterbacks - nine to be precise - who have gone at No. 1.
It’s also worth noting that he’s just the eighth QB from the SEC to be selected at No. 1 and the first since Joe Burrow did so in 2020. He is the third No. 1 overall pick from the SEC in the last four Drafts and the fifth in the last 10, which is to say, it may be that the division knows a thing or two about passing the football. This of course brings us to the only question that matters: Is Bryce Young worth it? On the one hand, Young is as talented as they come and as calm as can be, even when the pocket is crowded. On the other hand, his lack of size leaves one to wonder about his longevity. Can he continue to walk the dangerous line that he seemingly enjoys, or will his small stature prove to be a problem in the big time? While the jury is still out on that, we can at least say that the kid is undoubtedly talented. Watch this space.