Alabama quarterback Bryce Young remains the firm favourite to be drafted first overall with the 2023 NFL Draft is now just days away.
The Carolina Panthers traded up to secure the first overall pick, meaning that Young could very well be on his way to Charlotte as he embarks on his NFL career. However, the former head coach of one of their NFC South rivals has tried to make their decision harder ahead of the Draft.
Atlanta Falcons hold the eighth overall pick, and after signing Taylor Heinicke as a free agent they're likely to stay away from the quarterback scramble earlier on. But ahead of a huge decision for the Panthers, former head coach Mike Smith has offered his views on Young.
Young is expected to be the first overall pick, unless there is a major change of heart at the last minute. The Alabama star is priced as low as 1/10 to be picked first, with Will Levis the second favourite at 5/1.
There has also been a lot of talk about C.J. Stroud, with the Ohio State quarterback likely to be among the top-five picks on Thursday night. Smith has claimed that it's Stroud that should be No.1, questioning the size of Young in the process.
"Most people are saying it's a foregone conclusion that Bryce Young is going to be the first pick in the draft. But C.J. Stroud is my number one quarterback," Smith said to OLBG. "He's got great size, he's only a two-year starter which concerns some people, but he's the most accurate quarterback in the draft and he doesn't throw interceptions.
"He's got a super strong arm and there's a lot of upside with this kid because he's 21 years old. He's a pretty good scrambler, he creates, and he really did that in the semi-final game against the Bulldogs. Those two guys are going to be 1 and 2."
Smith didn't stop there, as he weighed in on the one factor that's putting some people off Young as a long-term star - his height. "Bryce checks all the boxes, except one big one in my mind and that's his height and build," Smith added.
"He is not 5ft 11, he measured in at 5ft 10 and 1/8th at the combine. He's got the arm strength, very accurate, great awareness, great mobility. He has all the things you want in a quarterback except one, and that's height.
You’ve got to have guys that can see the field and there's only been a couple of short quarterbacks that have been successful. If I'm picking between two players who are close, I'm going to look at the bigger, taller and stronger player. There may be a lot of mental makeup you look at when evaluating quarterbacks, but it's still a physical game and it always will be."
