Young tries to showcase his versatility at pro day
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Sorry about that, Coach.” Bryce Young glanced down the 40-yard line and grinned apologetically as a slew of scouts scooched backward on bent knees, clearing the way for the Alabama quarterback, the presumptive No. 2 overall pick if not No. 1, to fling a swing pass to a sprinting running back out of a makeshift backfield.
No need for an apology. It was the half-circle of talent evaluators who’d accidentally closed in too tightly in a manifestation of the palpable eagerness surrounding Young’s first throwing session of the NFL draft cycle. Finally, they could click pens, jot notes and chat about something other than Young’s lack in size.
They had no choice. Young left his potential playing weight a mystery by not stepping on the scale at Alabama’s pro day. By measuring officially at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds at the scouting combine earlier this month, Young proved he was at the very least capable of bulking up. But his decision not to throw before scouts in Indianapolis, followed by his decision not to weigh in at his pro day three weeks later, essentially leaves the argument to those who can vouch for Young verbally.
“I don’t think it’s an issue,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who referenced former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Drew Brees (6-0, 209 pounds) in his defense of Young. “It wasn’t an issue in his college career, and he’s going to play some of the same players in that league that he’s played against in the SEC.”
Saban strolled comfortably in sockless loafers amid onlooking executives, coaches and scouts. The Texans sent at least two staff members, college director of scouting James Liipfert and national scout John Ritcher, who’d just arrived after attending Ohio State’s pro day Wednesday. Houston’s most high-profile targets are obvious. The quarterbackneedy franchise will partly rely on its contingent’s three-day pro day tour of C.J. Stroud, Young, and Kentucky’s Will Levis to decide whether to spend its No. 2 overall pick on a premier passer.
The Texans are exploring further options. Newly hired coach Demeco Ryans could use a dominant edge defender to fulfill his primary defensive objective of fixing a scheme that surrendered the most rushing yards in franchise history last season. Alabama’s Will Anderson, a unanimous Allamerican, said he had a top-30 visit with the Texans in Houston earlier this month. He met with Ryans, caught up with former Alabama teammates John Metchie III and Christian Harris, and left with an impression that everything “went really good.”
Saban called Anderson a throwback player, a “dogass competitor” who will “run through a wall” for whichever team acquires him. Anderson, who measured 6-foot-3, 253 pounds at the combine, held a versatile role along the edge with the Crimson Tide. But Ryans went over film during their visit and showed Anderson how he could be a “hand-in-thedirt defensive end” in the Texans’ system.
“No matter where I go, no matter what position they put me in, I’m going to do my best and give it all for the team I’m playing for,” Anderson said.
The Panthers, who traded two first-round picks, two second-round selections plus wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Bears for the No. 1 overall pick, were far less clandestine about their intention to draft a quarterback. Carolina sent a full-court press of staff members that included owner David Tepper, newly hired quarterback coach Josh Mccown and senior assistant Jim Caldwell, a longtime quarterbacks coach who was also was the head coach of the Colts and Lions while working with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford, respectively.
Young said the Panthers and their delegation of front-office staffers and coaches hosted him for dinner in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night. They became familiar with one another, speaking about things beyond football. Such conversations are normal for NFL teams that are considering investing a wealth of capital into a potentially history-changing player.
“I try to be myself,” Young said. “I want to present myself in the best light. But ultimately, I don’t control where I’m picked, who picks me. I’ll be grateful for whatever team does take a chance on me. But for me, I try to focus on what I can control. I try to let the meetings and the interview and the film and what I did today speak for itself. That’s really all I can control.”
Young, who spent part of his offseason training near his hometown in Los Angeles, prepared a script of 50 passes for his throwing session Thursday. He completed 44 of 50 attempts but completed just one of six throws of 45 yards or more. Three of Young’s incompletions were dropped — one came on a swing pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs; the other two were on-target deep passes to wide receiver Jermaine Burton — and another deep pass got caught in the net hanging from the ceiling inside Alabama’s indoor practice facility.
The majority of Young’s passes were thrown within 15 yards, and he completed 30 of those 31 attempts. He was 11-of-11 on passes of 20 yards. Young demonstrated good footwork, ball placement and timing. He completed all 33 passes on hitches and out routes to the sidelines, which are passes requiring accuracy and timing. Those were among the main qualities Young wanted to show scouts.
“Yeah, I just wanted to show my diversity,” Young said. “We have some intermediate stuff, some short stuff. On platform, off platform. Some under-center stuff as well, which obviously hasn’t shown up on my film as much. But I wanted to show I was comfortable doing that. I really want to check all the boxes. Hopefully, it came across like that.”
Young said he hasn’t yet visited any NFL teams. His representation was waiting until after Alabama’s pro day to officially create such a schedule.