While I wouldn’t call this quarterback class anything special (that will wait for 2024), there are still some guys who will get their name called early. The main name we expect to see go near or at the top — Bryce Young.

The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is one of the most talented players in this entire draft. It is uncommon we get to see a guy win a Heisman and return to college to give us more film to evaluate, so this is a treat. After sitting behind Mac Jones in 2020, Young has dazzled us with big plays on the biggest stage. After a 13-2 year in 2021, Alabama finishes the 2022 regular season 10-2 in a less-than-ideal season. Even with a subpar year by Alabama’s standards, Young has shown us time and time again why he should be QB1. One of the most impressive things is that he is showcasing this talent with arguably the worst wide receiver core Alabama has had over the last decade. Young’s best playmakers are guys like Jermaine Burton and Jahmyr Gibbs. No disrespect to them, but guys like Tua Tagovailoa and Mac had guys like Jerry Jeudy, Jameson Williams, and John Metchie III. But a career in college doesn’t make a career in the NFL, so let’s see what Young has shown us on the field, not the statsheet.

He Has “IT”

While we always try to find guys who have the desirable measurables and dominant intangibles, we are sometimes gifted with a prospect who has something we all strive to have — the “it” factor. How does one define this trait? Well, you can’t. The “it” factor is just something that is there. It isn’t something you can measure on a graph, nor something that will find its way on the stat sheet. Guys just have “it.” “It” can often be viewed as clutchness, the ability to make the plays when they need to be made and go above and beyond when making them. Think about the 2021 Iron Bowl, a game in which Alabama struggled for 58 minutes. Bryce Young took his team on a 12-play, 97-yard drive that only took 71 ticks off the clock to tie the game. While Young wasn’t very impressive earlier in that game, he knew what he needed to do to get his team back in the game when they needed it the most. 

Now, you could say that it is a bad Auburn team and it is the most Auburn thing ever to lose that game. While I may agree with you, there is more than just this one occurrence. What about Texas? Another game where the Crimson Tide struggled for a majority of the game, but Bryce knows what it takes to win. How about a nine-play, 61-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal? The turning point in this drive was this very run that shows how athletic Bryce Young truly is.

It isn’t just his athleticism, it is his ability to maneuver the pocket and make guys miss. We don’t get guys like Bryce every year with this stuff. While he may not be the next Josh Allen like everyone is looking for, he has some things that can’t be replicated, nor can they be taught.

The Tennessee Game

I don’t think I have ever seen a better quarterback performance in a loss in my lifetime. Devin Gardner in 2013 against Ohio State is up there, but this was straight up magic from Bryce. Young walked into the most toxic Neyland Stadium (if we eliminate throwing mustard and golf balls) we have seen in a long time and had the poise of a champion. Mind you, this was Bryce COMING OFF AN INJURY. Bryce truly dominated the entire game (unfortunately, his secondary could not follow suit). Look at this throw in the first quarter. Absolute DIME!

I could just spam a few clips from this game just to show how special he was in this performance, and I will. Shoutout to this guy for a thread of clips from the game!

I don’t know if I am allowed to call this a statement game since Bryce already has a Heisman, but this was definitely a game where he showed everybody that he is more than a college quarterback.

The Elephant In The Room

Bryce is small. If I had to make an estimate on what he would measure in at, I would probably say around 5-foot-11 and anywhere between 185 and 190 pounds. I am not really concerned about the height; we have had shorter quarterbacks dominate the NFL before like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. And I wouldn’t even say I’m concerned with his lower weight, moreso interested to see if it affects anything. Guys that have measured in at Bryce’s height in the past seem to lean closer to that 205-210 range for weight, but I don’t necessarily think that means Bryce needs to gain 15-20 pounds of muscle over the next few months. While I don’t think it would hurt him, I’m not gonna say it is a requirement to succeed in the NFL like some people tried to say about DeVonta Smith when he was draft-eligible. 

The Verdict

We all know Bryce is extremely talented, but people are going to be blinded by his size. He has an NFL arm, has great pocket presence, and makes great use of his legs to extend plays. He has the savvy you want from a franchise quarterback, and he is more than capable to take your team on a game-winning drive. While he isn’t a perfect prospect (as no one is, that is why we have coaches to develop players), he is a dang good player who, with the help of a good front office and offensive-minded coach, can become a stellar quarterback for an NFL franchise. As of right now, I would give him the QB1 tag, and I don’t see myself taking it away. Easily a top-three pick and will probably go No. 1 if the Texans keep on sucking (just please hire an offensive-minded coach and get him some receivers).