There are reasons to suggest Bryce Young is exactly the right quarterback to lead the Carolina Panthers revolution in 2023 and beyond.
The recent Carolina Panthers docuseries entitled The Blueprint was extremely well received and detailed a thorough offseason process to turn around the team's fortunes. Everything from the coaching hires, free agency, and the 2023 NFL Draft was featured heavily, which only added to the excitement about what this organization might be capable of under head coach Frank Reich's leadership.
One marquee addition could shift the landscape above all else. The Panthers were mesmerized by Bryce Young throughout their pre-draft process after securing the No. 1 pick, which has only been enhanced after his phenomenal integration throughout early offseason workouts.
There is a genuine belief something special could be brewing with Young under center. There will be some struggles - which isn't uncommon for rookie signal-callers during their initial adjustment to the pros - but this decision was made with long-term, sustainable success in mind.
With this in mind, here are three reasons why Young is the perfect quarterback to spearhead the Panthers' revolution in 2023 and beyond.
Bryce Young embraces Carolina Panthers tradition
Bryce Young wasted no time discovering more about what makes the Carolina Panthers tick. This is an organization with proud community involvement and holding past performers in the highest regard, which is something the former Alabama stud has embraced fully as part of Frank Reich's new way of thinking.
The head coach - who was also the first quarterback in franchise history - has preached the importance of Carolina's values as a franchise. Keep Pounding has returned to the fore and Young is clearly eager to recognize and build on these proud traditions.
This makes him the perfect figurehead for a new, exciting era of Panthers football. And hopefully, it can provide the player with an extra level of motivation when it comes to maintaining the high standards of past generations.
Carolina Panthers have a complete performer in Bryce Young
There are very few flaws in Bryce Young's game. The biggest worry stems from a lack of true NFL size, but the modern-day game no longer requires a 6-foot-5 pocket passer under center.
It's evolved way beyond that and is something the likes of Kyler Murray, Drew Brees, and Russell Wilson can attest to. Make no mistake, Young could be the next in line given his eye-popping processing, supreme accuracy at all three levels, and an uncanny ability to come through in clutch situations.
Young is elusive in the pocket and has no trouble recognizing defensive schemes pre-snap before adjusting accordingly. The arm strength might not be elite, but it's more than sufficient to make strides immediately under an expansive offense created by Frank Reich and Thomas Brown.
If Young was 6-foot-2 or higher, he'd probably be the best quarterback prospect coming out since Trevor Lawrence or Andrew Luck. The height is an outlier, but the Carolina Panthers know the risks and have already devised ways to ensure this doesn't become a complication.
It won't be perfect - not immediately, anyway. However, the Heisman Trophy winner boasts the elite, complete traits normally associated with NFL stars at the quarterback position.
Something the Panthers have bet heavily on Young becoming in the near future.
Carolina Panthers have an elite leader in Bryce Young
While Bryce Young isn't going to be the life and soul of the party like Cam Newton, there is more than one way to lead as a franchise quarterback. The No. 1 overall selection conducts himself with extreme poise and is rarely flustered, which already has the attention of players of all ages within the locker room in a short space of time.
Young is a silent assassin. Don't let the politeness and softly spoken player away from the gridiron lull you into a false sense of security - there's a commanding swagger and killer mentality once it's time to get down to business.
Leading by example is something Young's done almost seamlessly ever since his high school days. It also shows no signs of slowing down if his quickfire influence throughout early off-season workouts was any indication.
Of course, nobody will ever bring the swagger Newton had. But as Brian Burns stated recently, being humble while also knowing he's the s--t is Young's preferred approach - which already has everyone fully on board with Carolina's choice atop the draft.
This is a quarterback-driven league. The previous regime found that out to their cost with a series of flawed trades and suspect free-agent signings, but Young represents the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
If he becomes Carolina's franchise quarterback, it's all systems go. And the Panthers couldn't be getting a harder worker or better leader.