2 weeks Ago
The Carolina Panthers are benching Bryce Young two weeks into his second season. Monday's decision has sparked a closer look at the 2023 NFL Draft. Carolina will likely spend a long time regretting the choice to take Young over C.
J. Stroud with the No. 1 pick.
While Young's pro career is already in peril, Stroud instantly established himself among the game's top signal-callers. There's no debate now between Young and Stroud. However, that wasn't always the case.
In fact, most observers valued the Alabama star more than his Ohio State peer out of college. Skip Bayless was one of those backers. The polarizing pundit may be cursing the haywire X algorithm for resurfacing a tweet that said "Bryce Young>CJ Stroud" on Oct.
29, 2023. This wouldn't have been a bold opinion that spring. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.
placed Young atop his quarterback draft board and also ranked Will Levis above Stroud. Rankings published by NFL.com , Pro Football Focus , and USA Today all preferred Young to Stroud.
Getty Images Most analysts didn't identify any concerns about Young beyond his frame. While scouts worried about the 5-foot-10, 204-pound passer staying healthy, few doubted his ability to handle NFL defenses "Bryce is the best pick; Stroud is the safer pick," former ESPN analyst Todd McShay told ESPN's David Newton before the draft. "On paper, C.
J.'s built to last longer in the NFL versus Young, who can extend and create and has this presence and field vision like no other in this class. If he was 6-2, 220 pounds, there would be no conversation.
Bryce Young would clearly be the No. 1 quarterback in this class." Bayless liking Young over Stroud isn't the same as him declaring that he'd take Tim Tebow over Tom Brady with the game on the line.
However, the former Undisputed host notably made this claim during the 2023 season. Bayless posted that opinion after the Panthers notched a 15-13 win over Stroud's Houston Texans in Week 8. Carolina has since won one game, and Stroud led Houston to a playoff victory as the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Related: NFL Fans React To The Panthers Benching No. 1 Pick Bryce Young.
