The start of the 2023 NFL Draft is a week away, with the Carolina Panthers officially on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick on April 27.
The consensus is that the Panthers will draft a quarterback at No. 1, with only two players likely in the running to be headed to Carolina on draft day.
Although C.J. Stroud, out of Ohio State University, is still in the running, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Panthers will select Alabama University star quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1 next Thursday.
As an undersized quarterback, there have been questions about whether Young’s skills will impact the NFL level, but his former teammate and fellow draft prospect Brian Branch wants to put that narrative to rest, as he made clear via NFL Network.
"He'll show people at the next level what he's capable of."
Standout @AlabamaFTBL safety Brian Branch has high praise for QB Bryce Young ahead of the Draft. @BrianBB_1
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft — Starts Thursday, April 27 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/3nDRwDGudA— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 20, 2023
Carolina will have no shortage of talented young quarterbacks to choose from once they’re officially on the clock next week, with Florida star Anthony Richardson and Will Levis out of the University of Kentucky joining the top-tier prospects at the position.
However, like Branch so bluntly stated, it would be unwise for the Panthers to pass on a talent like Young, who could become the face of the franchise for many years to come.
The Panthers haven’t had a franchise-caliber quarterback since Cam Newton was in his prime with the team, and team owner David Tepper is getting impatient as every move they’ve made for a quarterback recently hasn’t panned out.
All signs point to Carolina taking a chance on Young, and that will likely be the smart move for a team desperately in need of a star under center.
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