Big things have come in small packages for the Carolina Panthers before. From the inspirational Sam Mills, to the fiery Steve Smith and the dynamic Christian McCaffrey—this franchise has seen stars shine above their size.
And they’re hoping, perhaps more than ever, that their latest delivery is another prosperous one.
On Thursday night, the Panthers invested this year’s No. 1 overall pick into University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. That investment didn’t come cheap either, as Carolina had to part ways with a handful of high-end draft capital and star wideout DJ Moore to secure control of the board.
It also doesn’t come without its risks.
Unlike in 2021, 2020 or even back to 2012, this class did not have an undisputed No. 1 passing prospect to take at the top of the order. There was no Trevor Lawrence, no Joe Burrow and no Andrew Luck—each of which were considered the prototype for the pick.
Young, at 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds (on a very good day), is far from that prototype—at least in terms of his frame. He is now the lightest first-round quarterback since 2006 and one of the shortest ever drafted since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967.
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But what he lacks in size, he has in almost everything else.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a passer coming out of the college ranks with the polish, poise and playmaking ability Young possesses. He routinely showed during his incredibly productive and decorated stay with the Crimson Tide that he can pick the right part of the pocket, make the right decision and throw the right ball—all in a pro-style offense.
By the time his reign in Tuscaloosa was up, Young—in his two full seasons as a starter—had connected on 65.9 percent of his throws for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 23-4 record. Those numbers gave way to a pretty crowded trophy case, which currently displays—amongst many other accolades—the 2021 Heisman, Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Manning honors.
Now, Young walks into the pro locker room with another shot at sustained success.
Knowing they’d be welcoming in who they hope to be their next franchise guy, the Panthers catered much of their new-look personnel and roster to a young (get it?) quarterback. From having a former pro passer as a head coach to signing the likes of Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and Hayden Hurst, Carolina is trying to make Young’s transition to the next level a smooth one.
But until we find out how smooth that entry is—enjoy this weekend, Panthers fans. It’s probably the start of something sweet, no matter how short some may make it out to be.
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