Usually, a quarterback that goes No. 1 in the NFL Draft finds himself on a team that is rather weak.
However, Bryce Young will have a couple of solid weapons he will be able to rely on right away.
His Carolina Panthers have managed to add wide receivers DJ Chark and Adam Thielen this offseason, and the two should help speed up Young’s development.
The University of Alabama product was seen throwing passes to Thielen recently in preparation for training camp and the 2023 season, per the NFL on Twitter.
.@_bryce_young and @athielen19 building that chemistry. 🧪️
📹: via @2LiveCraig pic.twitter.com/Iwi0GQYYom
— NFL (@NFL) July 6, 2023
At Alabama, Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 while throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns, and in 2022 he led the Crimson Tide to a convincing win in the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State University.
There have been some questions about how he will hold up at the next level due to his modest 5-foot-10 stature, but plenty of people feel he will be fine in the NFL thanks to his ability to escape the pocket.
In addition to Chark and Thielen, Carolina will have running back Miles Sanders, who was named to the Pro Bowl last season while rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Perhaps expecting the team to make the playoffs is too lofty, but it could happen if Young is great out of the gate, especially given the lack of depth across the NFC.
The NFC South isn’t looking too strong — just about everyone expects the New Orleans Saints to finish first, but the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are unlikely to reach the postseason.
The NFC West and North divisions could also have just one team each that makes the playoffs, further opening the door for the Panthers to surprise people.
NEXT: Bryce Young Continues To Make A Great Impression
