Former Alabama star Bryce Young has cancelled his remaining visits with franchises as the quarterback is set to be selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft.
February’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis saw a strong showing from the heralded quarterback class as Alabama’s Young, Kentucky’s Will Levis, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson all received rave reviews. Carolina certainly saw enough to make a move for their long-term star, completing a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears to move up to the first overall pick.
Ahead of this month’s draft, the Panthers made a huge to jump nine places and have their pick of the talent. 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.
Amid reports the Panthers and head coach Frank Reich are ‘enamoured’ with the supremely-athletic Richardson, the franchise are set to pick Young, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2021. The 21-year-old has met with both the Panthers and the Houston Texans, who select second overall, and he has now cancelled his remaining visits as he appears destined to be a Panther.
Since his freshman year with Alabama, Young has won a national championship (behind Mac Jones), a Heisman, the Maxwell award and was named the AP College Player of the Year. In 2022, Young led Alabama to an 11-2 record while he finished 3,328 passing yards as well as 32 touchdowns to just five interceptions.
Young is undoubtedly an attractive prospect, but this is a class loaded with quarterback talent where each skillset is truly unique. The former Alabama star has a small frame, which placed interested teams on alert, although it appears the Panthers are ready to overlook the issues.
Young’s arm talent is undoubtedly impressive and the quarterback also clearly understands the fundamentals of the game. According to Albert Breer, Young scored an impressive score of 98 on the S2 cognitive test - a higher total than Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Fields, who were each considered high scorers in their own right.
Young has been the long-term favourite to be picked first but rumours suggested Stroud could be the first name called come 27 April. Stroud has enjoyed productive meetings with Carolina’s brass too, and he is expected to not slide past the Indianapolis Colts at fourth overall at the very lowest.
The first round of the NFL draft kicks off on 27 April with the event concluding with the seventh round on 29 April.
