NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick heads to Charlotte, and Panthers fans are excited about Bryce Young

On Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

The Panthers gave up a lot to trade up from No. 9 to No. 1 — giving Chicago its No. 9 2023 pick, a second-round pick in 2023, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025 and starting wide receiver DJ Moore, who just finished the first year of a three-year, $61.8 million contract.

Was Young worth all of that?

Panthers coach Frank Reich told fans at Bank of America Stadium that Carolina had selected the best college quarterback in the country. Owner David Tepper talked about winning Super Bowls.

Even Fox analyst Skip Bayless, who hasn’t been exactly kind to Charlotte sports teams through the years, had nice things to say (see below).

Young? He seemed very happy.

“It’s surreal,” Young told ESPN moments after the selection was announced in Kansas City. “It’s a dream come true. I’m blessed. I want to thank God for allowing me to be here, for my parents and everyone who supported me. Although it’s my name being called, there are so many people that pushed me and allowed me to be here. As amazing as this moment is, and I’m going to try to live in this moment, I can’t wait to get to work and start building off of it.”

Cam Newton called the pick for Young

The greatest quarterback in Carolina Panthers history, and a former top NFL Draft pick himself, said he was sure, long before the draft, who his old team should pick.

“I’m taking Bryce Young,” Cam Newton said on a YouTube video he posted Wednesday. “He’s had the ability to play in the big game, to perform in the big game and to get guys to buy into him. You see guys selling out for him. I look at the small stuff. I saw a couple of times a person tried to hit Bryce and you see how his offensive linemen are whooping ass trying to get guys off of him.”

Newton pointed out that Young’s career record of 23-4 as a starter at Alabama was a key factor in his decision, noting that Ohio State QB CJ Stroud was 21-4. But Newton believes the quality of competition that Young faced in the SEC makes a big difference.

“That’s not to discredit the Big Ten or the conference talent,” he said, “but I was watching half of those games from Bryce Young and I was amazed. Not only did he have good talent but he was the best talent on a good team.”

Newton also said with quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield being taken No. 1 overall in past drafts, that Young’s height shouldn’t work against him.

Murray, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, measured 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds. Mayfield, who measured 6-foot-1, 215, was taken No. 1 in 2018.

Now it could be Young’s turn. Young, however, is 5-foot-10, 204 pounds.

And that doesn’t bother Newton one bit.

“My only knock on Bryce Young is that he went to Alabama (whereas Newton went to Auburn),” Newton said. “I know how petty it may sound to some people, but you have to be from Alabama or have gone to Auburn or Alabama to understand the severity of the topic. But if I’m the GM, if I’m the head coach, if I’m (Panthers owner) David Tepper, I’m selecting Bryce Young.”

Young also has has a high opinion of the former Panthers star, who led Carolina to multiple division titles and a 2016 Super Bowl appearance.

“I have the utmost respect for Cam Newton,” Young said Wednesday. “Him being able to come in and have the success that he had, you now, being the MVP, playing at such a high level, taking the Panthers to a Super Bowl — and all the success he’s been able to have throughout his career and all the stuff that he does in the community. ... All the Alabama-Auburn stuff aside, it would be a huge honor, and I have the utmost respect for him.”

Social media reaction

And now, from Athens

Before we go, had to let you know that Young’s college rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs, had to get in one last shot.