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After they acquired the #1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears in a trade earlier this year, reports indicated that the Carolina Panthers would take Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud in this month’s NFL Draft.
Now, however, reports indicate there are “influential voices” within the Panthers organization that prefer Alabama QB and Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young over Stroud.
“The other thing I hear is several influential voices in the organization favor [Bryce] Young. That doesn’t mean Young will be the pick—not at all. This will be a collaborative choice, and the Panthers still have organizational meetings ahead to set their draft board with finality,” Peter King wrote on ProFootballTalk.
“But before he took the Carolina quarterback-coach job, Josh McCown reportedly told friends he loved Young. What that means after he’s studied all of the passers, I don’t know.”
As far as NFL analysts are concerned, the only major issue with Young’s prospects as a professional signal-caller seems to be his size. While Young didn’t weigh in at his
Pro Day earlier this month, he clocked 5′ 10″ and 204 pounds at the NFL Combine.
Stroud, who played for the Ohio State University Buckeyes, boasts a much more traditional quarterback frame as he stands at 6’3″ and reportedly weighs around 218 pounds.
During his two seasons as the starting quarterback for Nick Saban’s University of Alabama Crimson Tide, the former Heisman Trophy winner completed 64% of his passes for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just five interceptions during the 2022 season.
His finest season as a member of the Tide came back in 2021 when he completed 67% of his passes for a career-high 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The 2023 NFL Draft will be held at Union Station in Kansas City from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29, which gives the Panthers another three weeks to make their decision.
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