According to MMQB’s Albert Breer, the Carolina Panthers went into their evaluation process with Bryce Young at the top and that’s how they’re coming out of it.
As part of his column from Monday morning, the senior NFL reporter pieced together some draft predictions for each of the league’s 32 teams. When it comes to the Panthers, whose direction atop the board feels rather obvious at this point, Breer writes that the University of Alabama quarterback was always the guy:
It sure feels like there’s nothing really left other than for Roger Goodell to get to the stage and spit Young’s name out, a little at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Panthers weren’t sure who they’d take when they traded for the first pick, a little over six weeks ago, but my sense is their baseline, as far as who they were comfortable spending all that capital on, at the time, was Young. And Young never relinquished his lead over the pack. He crushed his meeting with new Panthers coach Frank Reich. He scored a 98 on the S2 cognitive test, one that Carolina owner David Tepper is said to be a big believer in. The Teppers spent time with Young’s parents at Alabama’s Pro Day. There is, of course, concern over Young’s size, from a durability standpoint. But he’s checked about every other box since.
For many, those boxes stack up on tape, through production and in interviews. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has always shined in the eye test, both on the field and in the box scores, and has seemingly passed every off-field test with flying colors.
Young was likely a save point of sorts for Carolina when they acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears back on March 10. While they were dedicated to vetting each of the draft’s top passing prospects in coming to such an important decision, Young may have been the ace in the hole from the start.
Now, all that’s left—as noted by Breer—is to hear that name go first on Thursday night.
