Last season, following a remarkable performance all-year long, Alabama QB Bryce Young capped off the season by winning the 2021 Heisman Trophy. This year hasn’t gone according to plan for the third-year signal caller, but he’s still played exceptionally well. Despite suffering an injury to his throwing shoulder, and losses to Tennessee and LSU, Bryce Young remains one of the best quarterbacks in college football. In this 2023 NFL Draft scouting report, we’ll breakdown why Bryce Young is one of the best in this class, as well as predicting a 40 time, examining his injury history, a full scouting report, and NFL Draft prediction.
Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Bryce Young. As always, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Bryce Young 40 Time
Alabama’s Bryce Young should run a 40 time in the mid 4.5’s, such as a 4.54. If this turns out to be the case, he would be roughly .25 seconds quicker than the league average. Further, his athleticism checks out on game film, too. Young is able to scramble outside the pocket and pickup first down yardage with relative ease. Additionally, he’s able to navigate the pocket as it collapses, can run the read-option exceptionally well, and opens up the field as a dual-threat.
Bryce Young Injury History
The Alabama QB suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder this season against Arkansas. As a result of the injury, Bryce Young missed the next game against Texas A&M, which Alabama was able to win 24-20. However, the injury didn’t last long as Young returned the following week against Tennessee. Despite throwing for 455 yards and two touchdowns, the Crimson Tide lost the game 49-52.
Bryce Young Scouting Report
Pros
- One Of The Best Dual-Threat Quarterbacks In College Football
- Excellent Ability To Navigate The Pocket And Remained Poised
- Strong Velocity On Throws Across The Entire Field
Cons
- Needs To Speed Up His Internal Clock inside The Pocket
- Decision-Making As Pocket Collapses Needs Improvement
- Adequate Ability To Read The Entire Field At Times
Bryce Young is a three-year contributor at quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He won the Heisman Trophy last season, in which he threw for over 4,800 yards, 47 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions. Young has adequate height for the quarterback position, but lacks the ideal weight when compared to the league average. his predicted 40 time of 4.54 seconds is much quicker than the league average.
He has good quickness and top end speed to pickup much needed yardage when scrambling outside the pocket. Displays a very good ability to throw with anticipation and place the ball in front of the receiver. Shows to have a good ability to scan the field quickly and get rid of the ball. Velocity on all throws across the field is strong. Young displays a very good ability to navigate the pocket to avoid pressure as it begins to collapse. When scrambling outside the pocket, his football IQ shines as he uses his athleticism to manipulate the coverage and create space for receivers. Has a very good ability to set up quickly and get rid of the ball when pressured.
On the other hand, his internal clock needs to be improved upon. There are times that he can hold onto the ball for too long, resulting in a sack or missed throwing opportunities. With the pocket collapsing and pressure coming, there are some poor throwing decisions. Young can occasionally rely too heavily on his check downs, even with wide-open receivers in the intermediate range.
Bryce Young NFL Draft Projection
Much like Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, I firmly believe that Bryce Young is one of the best quarterbacks in this upcoming draft class. If both quarterbacks declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s a two-horse race down the stretch.
I don’t see either quarterback making it out of the top five in April. However, it’s going to come down to which teams hold the first overall pick. The Houston Texans could choose to move on from Davis Mills, opening the door for a new franchise quarterback in town. As a dual-threat quarterback, this would certainly open up the playbook for the Texans, as well as take some pressure off of the interior offensive line. Additionally, this would open up running lanes for Dameon Pierce, as well as their young group of wide receivers.
