NFL
By: Brock Vierra
Alabama QB Bryce Young enters the 2023 NFL Draft as my QB1 and that is an opinion that is shared by many. How could you not? The only mark against Young is his height and weight but with the new style of football and the success of players like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, Young’s height is of no concern to me.
Young’s weight is not ideal, especially with the big-bodied defensive linemen that will be booming down on him but his play style is one of safety and explosive movement to avoid contact, not initiate it. Unlike Kyler Murray, Young’s mobility is used more to extend plays instead of making them. However, his athleticism is a massive benefit and it gives an offensive coordinator the ability to run read option and RPO concepts.
Under Bill O’Brien at Alabama, Young ran an NFL-style offense where he’s used to running a variety of plays from under center, shotgun, and in the pistol so there shouldn’t be a big learning curve in whatever offense he ends up in. Solid arm with elite accuracy from any spot on the field, Young’s patience and calmness in the pocket will boost the confidence of any coaching staff/ team.
Is Bryce Young The No. 1 Pick In The NFL Draft
His 80 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions are just plain impressive. His fourth-quarter performances scream that he’s a gamer and his 8000 passing yards in just two full seasons as a starter while Alabama had arguably its worst core of receivers in the Nick Saban era should quell any thoughts that he was carried by his teammates.
No disrespect to Brian Robinson Jr or Jahmyr Gibbs but Young had to operate without a Heisman candidate running back, something Alabama QBs aren’t necessarily used to, and yet, all he did was produce and perform, establishing himself as the best QB to come from the Crimson Tide since Joe Namath (Jalen Hurts is a Sooner for those who want to argue).
Yes, Young didn’t win a National Title, but if you look at the roster around him, it’s clear as day that Young is the only reason that Alabama didn’t have an even worse season than the one they had. Of his 4 career losses, the lowest amount of points that Alabama’s opponents scored was 32. Young also is very patient as well and will not hesitate to stay in the fire while plays develop downfield. Long story short, this kid is a perfect NFL prospect.
If you said Bryce Young’s name was John Doe and put his resume up against any top QB prospect ever, he’s clearly a generational talent. The only quote on quote “red flags” that Young has are on things out of his control which is his height and his frame. Everything that is in his control, he’s excelled at. Bryce Young is not a game manager, he’s a certified game changer. A trait that isn’t common across the board in the 2023 QB class. Just for the record, I am so confident that Bryce Young will be at the minimum, a top 15 QB in the NFL that if I was a GM, I would’ve traded even more resources than the Panthers did for the number one pick. Bryce Young was a stud in high school, a Heisman winner in college, and then came back with a worse squad and personally improved.
When you compile all the research and all the film. When you look at his career, his pre-draft process, and his entire body of work, the only word in the English vocabulary that should be used when it comes to Young is expected. He’s everything he’s ever been expected to be and while there’s no guarantee in the NFL, I’m sure he’s a QB that can lead a contender to a title. His floor is Jalen Hurts, his ceiling is Dan Fouts if not more. Either way, that’s a composed passer that will get a second contract. Bryce Young is QB1.
