Has it always been Bryce Young no matter what for the Carolina Panthers? Well, not exactly . . . but kinda.
As reported by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero on Thursday morning, just hours before the start of the 2023 draft, the team had always considered quarterback Bryce Young as the favorite for their No. 1 overall pick.
The #Panthers will finally reveal their new QB tonight, and sources say their thinking never wavered once they moved to No. 1. Scouts had conviction early in the process. Coaches had no doubt after film study.
League sources have believed for weeks it’ll be Bama’s Bryce Young. pic.twitter.com/I4ODulXiil
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2023
The University of Alabama star was apparently the “baseline” for the Panthers when they traded up to the top spot back on March 10. MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer noted as much in a column from earlier in the week:
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.
Carolina, with the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner in mind, would proceed to do their due diligence on the monumental decision. But, obviously, the likes of C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis never successfully challenged what the organization has seen in Young.
