Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports

Comp Picks is a season-long, weekly series that looks at the incoming rookie class from all angles, tying everything together with an NFL player comparison (or a combination of players) to contextualize upside and risk.

Background

Junior, 6-foot-0 and 194 pounds

Bryce Young was one of the most highly-touted recruits in the history of college football, and his quick ascension to the Heisman ceremony proved that evaluators got it right. Young's dominance at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, was remarkable, as he accumulated 13,250 yards, 152 touchdowns, and just 21 interceptions over his four-year career. He added another 1,084 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground, making him one of the most productive quarterbacks to come through one of the country's most famously successful high school football programs. That success earned him the number-one quarterback ranking in the nation and ranked him as the 20th-best recruit of all time. Upon arrival at Alabama, he sat behind Mac Jones for a season before taking over as the starter as a sophomore. He threw for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns, and seven interceptions en route to a national title berth and a Heisman Trophy. Early in 2022, Young has experienced similar success despite losing his top two pass catchers. He has been more efficient, even if the touchdowns and interceptions won't translate when the season concludes.

Scouting Report

Young is currently one of the most intelligent players in college football, and while he won't wow NFL evaluators with his size-adjusted athleticism or arm strength, his football IQ should keep him high on draft boards. Young reads the field well, consistently hitting the correct pre-snap read when it's open. He ticks through progressions effectively and can throw with anticipation. Young's ability to throw with anticipation is rare, and his insistence on remaining one step ahead of the defense disguises the perceived lack of arm strength. Still, his arm is adequate, with enough pop to get him by at the next level. He drives the football with his lower body well but generates enough zip when on the run, primarily due to his pinpoint accuracy. Young can drop a throw in a bucket at each field level when he's on, though he can sometimes be erratic. Young places balls perfectly for his receivers when locked in, allowing optimal yards-after-the-catch opportunities to come to fruition. He also understands the need for velocity changes, putting touch on footballs that require it and zipping into tight windows when needed.

NFL front offices will first point to his size when discussing negatives; unfortunately, that's not an area Young can improve. Young's more diminutive stature has presented issues, with the midseason shoulder injury knocking him out of the game against Texas A&M in Week 6. Adding muscle may be possible, but his thin frame and lack of height may make that challenging. Furthermore, Young has escaped the consequences of his unorthodox footwork when dropping back in the pocket thus far, but the crossing of his feet is an area NFL teams will likely attempt to alter.

The Comp Pick: Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Young’s skill set is incredibly similar to Russell Wilson’s, and that high-level outlook is realistic for Young upon his arrival in the NFL. Wilson is at his best when moving around within and outside the pocket, extending plays while utilizing his accuracy to be a lethal downfield thrower. Young has a similar style. Both players win with intelligence, while neither has a powerful arm compared to the elite talents in the NFL. Wilson’s added rushing ability is something Young has shown, though he much prefers to pass first. The players both lack the size that NFL teams typically covet, but both can and have overcome that reality. They differ in desire and ability to stay in the pocket when extending plays is not an option. Young is willing to stand in and deliver throws across the middle under pressure. Wilson traditionally takes sacks or attempts to get free via the back of the pocket. Young’s earlier collegiate success inspires confidence that his ceiling could be higher than the MVP vote-getter, too.

Final Thoughts

Young will be a divisive prospect, as players of his stature don’t traditionally become superstars in the NFL. But the intelligence he plays with is unmatched in the 2023 class, and the combination of anticipatory throws and accuracy hasn’t been present in a quarterback prospect since Joe Burrow. Young has succeeded throughout his football career, and his ability to elevate the talent around him makes him an excellent quarterback prospect. The similarities to Russell Wilson are striking, and the high level with which Wilson played for the bulk of his career is what Young can aspire to achieve.

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