Will Bryce Young go to Carolina Panthers at No. 1 in NFL draft after trade for top pick?

Alabama football quarterback Bryce Young may or may not be the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. But a huge trade in the NFL impacts his future nevertheless.

The Carolina Panthers are trading from No. 9 overall to the top overall pick in the draft in a swap with the Chicago Bears, trading away that ninth overall pick, the No. 61 overall pick in 2023, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick plus wide receiver D.J. Moore to acquire the top selection, according to ESPN.

The Panthers have had four years of below-average quarterback play since Cam Newton was the team's healthy starter. Last season, the Panthers started Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker at QB before settling on Sam Darnold in the second half of the season to make a run at the NFC South division title. A Week 17 loss to eventual division winner Tampa Bay ended those playoff hopes.

Carolina fired Matt Rhule midseason and hired Frank Reich, the former Indianapolis Colts coach, as the team's new coach in January.

There are four quarterbacks who most insiders and draft experts have grouped together as top passers in this year's draft, including Young, Florida's Anthony Richardson, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Kentucky's Will Levis. The Bears weren't likely to draft a QB first overall with Justin Fields on the roster, and Friday's reported trade opens the door for one of the QBs to be the No. 1 pick.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on SportsCenter Friday that there is a "belief" Panthers owner David Tepper prefers Young in this QB class. If the Panthers do select Young, the Alabama quarterback would be going to a team with a solid offensive line but unproven pass-catchers after Moore was sent to Chicago for the pick. As of now, Carolina has 2021 second-round pick Terrace Marshall, Shi Smith and Laviska Shenault at receiver.

Even if Carolina passes on Young, Houston is sitting at No. 2 and is QB needy, while the Cardinals could be a trade target for other QB-needy teams at No. 3 overall.

But it is early in the offseason. Forty-eight days remain until the Panthers are on the clock with the top pick on April 27 in Kansas City.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Bryce Young: Panthers trade for NFL draft top pick. Alabama QB No. 1?