Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young is impressing the NFC South franchise with his remarkable poise in offseason training.
According to ESPN, Young - the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft - has showcased composure and decision-making abilities beyond his years during Panthers OTAs. The organisation have reportedly taken note from top to bottom, with coaches and teammates genuinely impressed by the early stages of Young’s transition to the pro game.
Ahead of the draft, the Panthers made a huge to jump nine places and land Young. The franchise traded the ninth overall pick, the 61st overall pick, a 2024 first-round selection and a 2025 second-round selection as well as star receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears.
The move appears to have paid off, with Fowler suggesting Young is displaying a calm demeanour and composure behind his offensive line went undergoing drills. The former Alabama star’s smooth control and mentality has made him stand out during the early stages of Carolina’s preseason camps.
Young has reportedly showcased accuracy and precision when throwing intermediate and deep passes. Regardless of whether it is at a walkthrough practice session or putting in reps against a defence, the 21-year-old has pulled off perfect throws in tight windows on a consistent basis.
It has impressed the coaching staff in Carolina as Young demonstrated the combination of his arm talent and understanding of the game. This is particularly stunning as the Panthers did not provide the rookie with a playbook in advance as the franchise had not informed Young was to be selected first overall.
Instead of waiting for word from the team, Young got stuck into the tendencies of Panthers head coach Frank Reich and researched his offensive strategies from past roles. It highlights his remarkable preparation and the proactive approach demonstrates Young’s commitment to his craft.
It has given fans hope the Panthers could make a splash in 2023 and bounce back from a 7-10 record last season. However, Matt Lombardo reported an anonymous AFC personnel executive expressed concern about Young’s stature: “The NFC South is wide open, so Frank will probably do pretty well. Frank is the definition of a pro’s pro.
“His key will be Bryce Young and his ability to stay on the field. I worry that Bryce is going to get killed - like, smashed.”
