This isn’t the first time Vonn Bell is playing alongside a rookie quarterback who was taken at the very top of the draft.
After Monday’s outing of training camp, the new Carolina Panthers safety joined NFL Network’s Sara Walsh and Marc Ross on the set of NFL Total Access. Walsh asked Bell to compare 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young to 2020 No. 1 pick Joe Burrow.
“Man, it’s pretty much the same,” the eighth-year veteran replied. “They just wanna prove themselves at first, and let their play do the talking. Then, they go ease into the leadership role and whatnot. So they just tryin’ to get their feet down. Just really go out there and show the guys who they are and just showin’ up every day to work just tryin’ to be a pro. But they’re very similar and they’re phenomenal talents, for sure.”
Bell spent the last three seasons sharing the Cincinnati Bengals sidelines with Burrow, who emerged as one of the game’s very passers over that time. And like Burrow, Young saw plenty of collegiate success in the SEC, captured himself a Heisman Trophy and eventually became a first overall selection.
But will he reach the same levels of pro success Joe Cool has? Well, if you ask Bell, we might be entering the Bryce Age soon enough.
“He’s lookin’ good,” he added of Young. “But he’s doin’ some things that can’t be coached, but it’s just natural. He’s very comfortable, he got an arm for sure and he’s a natural playmaker.”
