Quarterbacks ruled the primary a part of the NFL draft.
Bryce Young, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson had been some of the most sensible 4 selections Thursday evening, an anticipated lead to a league the place groups know discovering a franchise QB is the fastest trail to luck.
The Carolina Panthers decided on Young, the slim and dynamic Alabama quarterback, with the No. 1 pick out, seven weeks after creating a blockbuster business with Chicago to transport as much as get their selection.
The Panthers selected the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner over Ohio State’s Stroud, Florida’s Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis. New trainer Frank Reich mentioned previous within the week that the group reached a consensus Monday after a number of weeks of deliberation.
Stroud did not have to attend lengthy. He went No. 2 to the Houston Texans, who then made a blockbuster maintain Arizona to obtain the No. 3 pick out and decided on Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
Richardson then went at No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts, who would start a 6th instantly season with a unique beginning QB.
Heading into the draft, there used to be no consensus past the No. 1 pick out.
A dual-threat playmaker with a robust arm and an elite aggregate of instincts and intelligence, Young additionally possesses the intangibles and traits coaches need, together with management talent and a powerful paintings ethic.
But the most important query about Young is his dimension. He measured at 5ft 10in 1/8 and weighed 204lbs on the mix. Although he ruled the SEC, some scouts and coaches worry Young won’t have the ability to bodily resist the entire hits within the NFL.
The Panthers could not move up his awesome abilities.
Kyler Murray, the No. 1 total pick out in 2019, is the one different QB since 2003 to be decided on within the first around after weighing in at 207 kilos or much less on the mix.
“I’m confident in my abilities,” Young mentioned Wednesday. “I do not know the way to play the sport otherwise. I’ve been this dimension relative to the folks round me my complete lifestyles. I center of attention on what I keep an eye on, and I will not develop. That does not fall into that class. I will’t get any upper. I center of attention on myself. I’m assured in myself with what I’ve been ready to do and I’m excited for the paintings it is going to take.”
The Panthers have sought an answer at quarterback since moving on from Cam Newton, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and the NFL MVP in 2015 when he led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance.
Young had a spectacular career at Alabama and the Panthers are hoping he can deliver the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. He played in a pro-style offense under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, the former Texans head coach who has returned to the NFL to run New England’s offense.
Young threw for 4,872 yards with 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first season starting as a sophomore in 2021. Last season, he had 3,328 yards passing with 32 TDs and five picks while playing with a new supporting cast.
Stroud’s stock had seemingly dropped after reports that he scored poorly in the S2 Cognition test surfaced recently. He told the AP earlier in the day he didn’t know where he would end up going, even saying it could be top 20.
Instead, Stroud, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy the past two seasons, goes to Houston to help the rebuilding Texans move past Deshaun Watson.
Richardson might have the most upside of all the QBs in this draft class but he has the least experience. Colts owner Jim Irsay is fond of Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Richardson has similar playmaking ability.
He’ll play for Shane Steichen, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when Hurts developed into an MVP runner-up.
Defense-needy Seattle took Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 and the Cardinals moved up to No. 6 to select Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson. Las Vegas then chose Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson and Atlanta made Bijan Robinson the first running back taken in the top 10 since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the Giants in 2018.
NFC champion Philadelphia moved up one spot to take troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9 and Chicago went with Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the 10th pick.
At No. 11, the Titans passed on Levis for Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. Levis and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker could make it five QBs in the first round a year after Kenny Pickett (No. 20) was the only signal-caller to go in the first round.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also passed on Levis at No. 19, taking Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
It took until the 20th pick for the first wide receiver to go. The Seahawks chose Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That started a run of four wideouts in a row. The Chargers then took Quentin Johnston, the Ravens grabbed Zay Flowers to team up with Odell Beckham Jr., and the Vikings added Jordan Addison to go with Justin Jefferson.
Two months after the hometown Kansas City Chiefs celebrated another Super Bowl title with a downtown parade, a sea of red-clad fans lined up in the streets where the century-old Union Station served as the backdrop for the draft.
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce walked on stage with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and riled up the crowd before turning it over to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Mahomes implored fans to scream louder – they did. Kelce asked if they wanted to trade up for the No. 1 pick.
But the Chiefs do not want a QB. Carolina, Houston and Indianapolis did.