2023 NFL Draft: How Does Bryce Young Translate To The NFL?

Bryce Young has an impressive skill set as he begins what is likely his final season before entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

To say Bryce Young had a good first season as the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide is an understatement. He started off the year by throwing for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns vs. Miami. Some of his other impressive performances came against Arkansas where he threw for 559 yards and five touchdowns and vs. New Mexico State completing 21 of 23 passes while seeing five of those passes go for touchdowns. Overall on the season, he tossed 47 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while throwing for 4,872 yards. His strong season was enough for him to come away with the Heisman Trophy and lead Alabama to the National Championship game.

When looking at how Bryce Young transfers to the NFL his top trait by far is his ability to read a defense and consistently get the ball to his playmakers. In this area, he does a terrific job of going through his reads and normally will take what the defense gives him. His vision also helps when plays break down allowing him to find the open man despite facing pressure which is one of the reasons he graded as the second-highest quarterback against the blitz last season according to Pro Football Focus.

Another trait that helps Young get the ball to his playmakers is his quick release. He has a very compact delivery which allows him to rid of the ball before a defender has a chance to react. This skill also makes him elite when it comes to throwing screens and other quick-hitting pass routes. This quick release and the fact he throws with good touch on his passes allow his receivers to make numerous plays after the catch which has led to them picking up a lot of YAC yards.

One more positive with Bryce Young is his mobility. He does a good job of sliding around in the pocket when faced with pressure due to his quick feet and overall athletic ability. In addition to his mobility in the pocket, he has the speed to take off and run when needed but also has the patience to keep his eyes downfield and not take off at the first sign of trouble. One concern with him in this area though is he does tend to start sliding in the pocket before the need arises.

While Young has the skillset to excite NFL scouts for the 2023 NFL Draft, he does need to work on a few things before making the transition to the NFL. The first one is adding weight to his 6-foot 190-pound frame. When looking at his pictures from the Manning Passing Academy he looks more like a high school prospect than a potential top-five overall selection. His lack of size will make scouts very nervous about drafting him due to his ability to hold up in the NFL.

Another concern that comes with Young’s lack of bulk is his arm strength. While he has made several big plays throwing the ball downfield during his Alabama career he lacks great zip on most of these passes. He also has trouble throwing the ball downfield when he can’t step into his passes and was helped out significantly by playing behind Alabama’s offensive line.

One more issue I have with Bryce Young is his footwork especially when it comes to his delivery. In this area, he is not the most consistent player and at times will overstride when trying to get rid of the ball or not step into his throws at all. If Young can improve in this area his completion percentage will likely increase from his already impressive 67% from last season.

When it comes to where Bryce Young will go in the 2023 NFL Draft he will likely be a top ten pick and will battle with C.J. Stroud to be the top quarterback drafted this April. In Mel Kiper’s latest big board he has Young rated as the second-best player in the 2023 NFL Draft and he is rated as the top player overall by Mock Draft Database. In Jacob Schyvinck’s latest mock draft he has Young going number three overall to the Detroit Lions which would be a good fit for him as would the New York Giants and Houston Texans which are two other teams who will likely be taking a quarterback high next year.