Three of the four projected first-round quarterbacks had their pro days this week. CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Will Levis were in action for potential NFL homes at their respective pro days. I wrote about Stroud‘s performance at Ohio State’s pro day on Tuesday, and Luis wrote about Jaxson Smith-Njigba‘s performance there. So, we’ll start with Bryce Young’s pro day at Alabama on Thursday.
A day after the Panthers showed up to CJ Stroud’s pro day at Ohio State, they were in Tuscaloosa in numbers for Bryce Young’s pro day. NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported that Young went to dinner with the Panthers contingent of head coach Frank Reich, GM Scott Fitterer, QB coach Josh McCown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell and owner David Tepper on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, Young decided not to weigh in, instead sticking with his Scouting Combine measurements (5-foot-10 1/8, 204 pounds). Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke on the size concerns regarding Young on Thursday. Saban said he had no concerns about his size and pointed out that many of the same people he played against at Alabama will make up the people he will play against in the NFL.
Saban on Young’s size as it relates to the NFL: “I don’t have any issues with his measurables. … He’s never been hurt here, other than when he hurt himself basically, falling down and put his arm out. His 5-10 frame has never really had an impact on his productivity.” pic.twitter.com/e63LJjrkee— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2023
As for how Young looked, he was good. He didn’t blow me away but put together a solid performance. Not counting drops by the receiver, Young only missed three throws. Two were off target, and one hit some netting suspended from the roof of Bama’s indoor facility. His throwing session was strong, and he won’t lose any ground in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft.
According to Mike Garofolo, Young met with the Seahawks and Raiders on Thursday. Also in attendance were Saints head coach Dennis Allen and assistant GM Jeff Ireland, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Bills GM Brandon Beane, Lions GM Brad Holmes, and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
However, not all of those faces were there for Bryce Young. Alabama’s pro day also included Will Anderson Jr… Anderson, a strong candidate to go somewhere in the top five picks in next month’s draft. So, he decided not to work out on Thursday. Anderson only ran the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine, skipping the skill drills. With Anderson projected to be the first non-QB off the board at the draft, there’s not much he can gain from participating in these events.
The Panthers went to Tuscaloosa to see and meet Bryce Young, but I still think that CJ Stroud is their guy. Either way, Carolina is in a position to land whatever QB they want and, potentially, some more draft capital.
Will Levis had his turn on Friday. Levis showed off his impressive arm strength during his 50-throw scripted workout led by QB coach Jordan Palmer. Levis had a few off-target throws throughout, but not an alarming amount. However, Levis’ “cannon” was on full display. He showed more velocity on his throws than Stroud and Young on their pro days.
Ian Rapoport said the Panthers, Raiders, and Titans spent time with Levis this week. There was also a confirmed sighting of Pete Carrol and the Seahawks scouting team with Levis at Kentucky’s pro day. Rapoport said on Friday that his sources have Stroud and Young as the Panthers’ top two choices at No. 1, with Levis and Florida QB Anthony Richardson in a hypothetical race for the third spot in the QB food chain.
New Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore grew up in the same area Amari Cooper grew up in. So, being teammates with Cooper now is a full-circle type of occurrence for Moore, who grew up hearing about Cooper’s game. Moore told the Akron Beacon Journal this week that he grew up studying Cooper from afar. Now he can do it in person in Cleveland.
“I heard about (Cooper) when I was young,” the new Browns receiver said Thursday. “So hearing him do his thing as far as how he moves and just his dedication to football is how we’re built over there. So major respect.”
I wrote about what Elijah Moore brings to the table in Cleveland on Friday. This one also includes how the Moore trade to Cleveland impacts the fantasy football landscape.
Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
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