Bryce Young Rated as No. 1 QB by ESPN for 2023 NFL Draft

In a deep and talented quarterback class, ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid has Bryce Young as the top-rated quarterback for the 2023 NFL Draft. Young could be the first Alabama player selected with the No. 1 overall pick since Harry Gilmer in 1948.

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“Young is a poised dual-threat thrower who plays the game with the same heartbeat no matter the magnitude of the situation,” Reid said. “His sufficient arm strength is coupled with great accuracy to all the parts of the field. Young is slippery in the pocket and can maneuver outside of structure to create throwing lanes.”

Young’s 6’0” and 194-pound frame will garner more attention when draft season arrives, but there is no denying the skillset the 2021 Heisman trophy winner brings to the table. He is a natural born leader and handles himself with a maturity that has franchise quarterback written all over it. Young can provide stability at the games most important position and to a franchise that will be in desperate need of it.

The Alabama signal-caller has demonstrated not only his exceptional arm talent but also how dynamic he can be as a runner. In the Tide’s season-opener against Utah State, he carried the ball five times for a total of 100 yards and a touchdown. Young is a pass-first quarterback who frequently moves to open up throwing lanes for himself, but he should always be taken into account because he can make big plays with his legs.

Young has developed a knack for the late-game heroics in his year and a half as a starter. Last season, he engineered a 97-yard touchdown drive in the Iron Bowl with no timeouts and 1:35 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime.

This season, with 1:24 remaining and two-point deficit against Texas in Austin, Young and company took the field. He completed his first four passes on the drive and picked up 20 yards using his legs, putting Alabama on the Texas 17 yard-line, setting up Will Reichard to kick a 33-yard game-winning field goal.

A lot can change between now and April’s draft, but Young has positioned himself to hear his name called early on day one.