Panthers select Bryce Young first overall
The Carolina Panthers knew for a long time they wanted Alabama’s Bryce Young, and they paid an expensive price to trade up and get him.
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Panthers knew they wanted Bryce
The Panthers had made it clear they wanted Bryce Young and had traded for the number one pick from the Bears to get him. But they still made everyone wait a couple of minutes before submitting the pick to NFL Draft HQ.
Bryce’s abilities and weaknesses
What are the Panthers getting for their number one pick? Young took over at Alabama in ‘21 and won the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s best player, he’s somewhat small at 5 ft 10 in and just 195 lbs, but there’s a heap of talent packed into that small(ish) frame. Above all what stands out is his calm on the field - in fact what was noticeable was just how calm he was after being picked number one... walking onto the stage at the Draft cool as a cucumber.
That ability to deal with pressure makes him super dangerous in tight fourth quarter situations, while he excels at reading the entire pitch and rerouting receivers if the play extends. Given he doesn’t panic he’s also good at avoiding trouble when it’s lurking.
The worries? Will his slight frame see him struggle with consistency? Can he improve his deep throws, which can run out of steam and can he start running more often, which is one aspect of his game where he’s shown somewhat lacking.
Overall though he’s a fine ball player.