2023 NFL Mock Draft: C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young Number One?

3. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The Panthers have made many attempts at finding their guy at quarterback and have struck out time and time again. If they have a chance at landing Young or Stroud without trading up in this draft they have to take it.  In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft scenario Bryce Young falls to them.

Young is a former highly-rated recruit who has looked like a high-caliber quarterback prospect for a while. It’s easy to see why as he just has a natural ability to operate an offense. The reigning Heisman winner checks off a lot of boxes of what you want in an NFL quarterback.

For starters his accuracy is excellent as he consistently places his passes where his receivers need to be. Young has good arm strength as well as he puts good velocity on his passes and can throw deep. He also senses pressure well in the pocket, he does hang onto the ball too long at times, but he has a good sense of when/where pressure is coming and navigates the pocket to avoid it.

Another big selling point to his game is his ability to create outside of structure. This is a trait that is highly valued in today’s game and Young has time and time again shown his ability to scramble and find receivers downfield better than most you’re going to see out of a quarterback.

This ability was shown on a key play earlier in the season against Texas. With under a minute left the Tide needed a field goal to take the lead late and Texas had a free rusher off the edge, Young didn’t panic at all, stepped up to avoid the sack and took off around the edge for a 19 yard gain to put them in field goal range.

Ultimately, Young has more than proved he’s worth being one of first quarterbacks off the board in April’s draft. In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft he goes third overall to the Panthers, but if he’s the first name called come draft time it wouldn’t surprise me at all.