Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has yet to play a snap in the NFL, but the first-overall pick is already impressing the coaching staff and his fellow teammates alike. Recently, head coach Frank Reich compared Young’s football intelligence to Payton Manning, while wide receiver Adam Thielen can’t stop signing Young’s praises.
Bryce Young Impressing Coaches, Veterans Alike
Frank Reich Makes Lofty Comparison
The Carolina Panthers traded up for the first-overall pick long before they knew who they’d actually take with that selection. While the team went back and forth between Young and C.J. Stroud, head coach Frank Reich locked in his decision following Young’s top-30 visit with the team.
Speaking to Peter King, Reich talked about how impressed he was with Young’s football IQ, specifically calling out a moment where Young flawlessly recalled one play from his freshman year.
“Bryce right there called a five-man slide, which is an incredibly smart and incredibly risky call. If you’re going to call a five-man slide, you have to be 100 percent sure you can bring that tackle over…And just watch the play – how smooth the call is, how sure he is…just look how easy he made it look.”
Carolina HC Frank Reich says this is the play that sold him on Alabama QB Bryce Young.
“He saw overload pressure to his left … he had the line all move left to compensate — and he even got the back to cover a blitzer. Just look how easy he made it look.” pic.twitter.com/x5sD9gh6zy
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) May 8, 2023
This is an impressive call for any college quarterback to make, much less a freshman, and Reich said it was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to Bryce Young’s intellect.
“The play just confirmed everything we were thinking and already know. Just confirmed the level of football IQ he has that’s on par with Peyton [Manning], [Matt] Ryan, [Philip] Rivers, [Andrew] Luck.”
That is some high praise, and it’s not just coach speak. Reich has worked with each and every last one of those aforementioned passers at some point in his career, so he knows what a great quarterback looks like. Obviously, it’s too early to tell if Young’s smarts will adapt to the speed of the NFL game, but the early signs are promising.
Adam Thielen Impressed by Bryce Young
One of the most important things a young quarterback can do is establish a rapport with his new receivers, and all signs indicate that’s exactly what Young is doing. Longtime Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is set to be the top option in the Carolina Panthers passing attack, and Bryce Young has already made a positive impression on the veteran.
Speaking to Joe Person of The Athletic, Thielen spoke at length about the impressive way in which Young handles himself.
“When you meet him [Bryce Young] as a person, you understand how mature he is for his age and how respectful he is and his knowledge of the game. It really impresses you.”
Once again, we see more praise for Young’s football IQ, but perhaps more importantly, his maturity and humility. It takes more than talent to succeed in the NFL, as Ryan Leaf would tell you, and the Alabama product appears to have the right mindset to succeed at the professional level.
It’s a good thing these two appear to be hitting it off, as Thielen is going to play a crucial role in Young’s early career. With D.J. Moore in Chicago, the 32-year-old receiver will likely be the top target and Young’s go-to security blanket whenever he gets on the field.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
