2023 Pro Day Rewind: CJ Stroud, Bryce Young State Case As No.1
With one month to go until the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, the debate for who will be the top choice continues to intensify! The Carolina Panthers are on the clock…
Welcome to an All Access Football Pro Day Rewind!
In today’s email:
Ric reviews the Carolina Panthers busy week
Our first stop was in Columbus Ohio to watch CJ Stroud
It was then off to Tuscaloosa on Thursday, where Carolina would meet with Bryce Young
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2023 Sports Illustrated Draft Coverage by Ric
With the 2023 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Carolina Panthers final decision on what to do with the number one overall pick only continues to become more difficult.
It was a pro day week filled with heavyweights, as the two goliaths of the 2023 NFL Draft took center stage. Quarterbacks CJ Stroud of Ohio State and Bryce Young of Alabama held back-to-back workouts, in a duel to determine just who is the top quarterback prospect in this year’s class.
The events were filled with anticipation, as nearly 300 total NFL personnel attended the two media-filled events. For Carolina, the choice could make or break their organization for the next five years and beyond. Considering the ransom they gave up (two first round picks and 1,000-yard receiver DJ Moore), Panthers owners Dave and Nicole Tepper understand the magnitude of this selection.
In all, Carolina had a traveling entourage of one dozen members, including general manager Scott Fitterer, new head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Josh McCown who made the trek for an up close look-see at both Stroud and Young. The new Carolina core contingent seeks to bring home their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history—securing a cornerstone quarterback has been the hallmark for that success.
The first stop was in Columbus Ohio on Tuesday night, as the Panthers met with Stroud over dinner the night before his workout. According to Stroud, the conversation went ‘great.’ The chatter would continue on Wednesday, as Ohio State head coach Ryan Day hold court to over 150 pro personnel, including 10 general managers and nine head coaches. Both Reich and McCown could visibly be seen making their acquaintances known following the throwing session.
In terms of performance, Stroud delivered on yet another spectacular showing, following up his dazzling display at the NFL Scouting Combine. The California native was calm, cool and collective, completing 44-of-51 passes, while once again showcasing his ability to make all the throws in picturesque fashion.
It was then off to Tuscaloosa on Thursday, where Carolina would meet with Young prior to his workout in the morning and again in the evening, as they reportedly also had dinner with the Heisman Trophy winner.
While not quite as electrifying as Stroud, the workout put on by Young featured a variety of throws, 50 passes in total, as he connected on 44 of those attempts. His main focus was showing off his accuracy in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field—two of his incompletions were a result of a low hanging ceiling inside the Crimson Tide practice facility.
For the record, Young declined to weigh-in at his pro day workout, after tipping the scales at 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds at the combine. There were whispers in Indianapolis that Young had bowed out of throwing drills at the combine due to the additional weight packed on. With reports that he played under 200 pounds this past season, it’s a safe assumption to say that the Philadelphia native was throwing at a lighter weight at pro day. How much of a factor that plays into the equation for Carolina remains to be seen but it’s worth noting.
While the track-record suggests that Reich has preferred the more traditional, pocket-passer type during previous pit-stops during his NFL coaching career, many have speculated that Stroud figures to be the choice. However, the polarizing dual-threat talent of Young and ability to extend plays has divided the Carolina war room, which is overseen by Fitterer and assistant general manager Dan Morgan.
Ultimately, what could become the most monumental decision in the history of the Carolina organization must be made on April 28th and the sand in the hour glass is almost running out.
SEEN & HEARD….
Some other tidbits from the Ohio State-Alabama pro day scene:
The current odds-on favorite to be the first wide receiver off the board would be Buckeyes playmaker Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He timed in the 4.48/4.52-range in the forty-yard dash, which isn’t quite the speed that some scouts had hoped to see but certainly won’t dampen his draft stock any.
One of the most exciting elements of this past week was NFL scouts getting a sneak peek preview of Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., who will be in contention as the top overall selection of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Crimson Tide edge rusher Will Anderson, the consensus top player on many big boards around the league, did not workout.
Nearly a decade after his original pro day at Alabama, former 20123 first-round pick DJ Fluker is on the comeback trail and appeared to be in the best shape of his life, according to onlookers in attendance.
One last stand out from OSU pro day: Ivy League running back Allen Smith who starred at Brown and is a native of Columbus. He was allowed to work out by coach Day and scouts in attendance were pleasantly surprised, as he registered a 38.5” vertical jump, along with a 10-foot-5 broad jump.
According to the Alabama website, general managers Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears), Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills), Martin Mayhew (Washington Commanders), Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins), Joe Schoen (New York Giants), Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions), Scott Fitterer (Carolina Panthers), John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks) and Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers) were present at pro day. In addition, head coaches present included Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears), Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins), Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints), Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks), and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), plus defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (Dallas Cowboys).
As per Sports Illustrated, NFL decision-makers in attendance for Ohio State included the following personnel: Bills general manager Brandon Beane, Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew, Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, Saints head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and general manager Ran Carthon.
Have a great Friday!
Ric
Hi Steven,
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We sell out these 250 each year. For hard copy we charge $99. For PDF we charge $20.
Is it possible to just buy the draft bible book,and not pay $100?