Panthers RB downplays persistent concern about rookie QB

Despite questions about the size (5-foot-10, 204 pounds) of Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, one teammate mitigated the concern and believes he's the real deal.

"The height doesn't matter at all," Panthers running back Miles Sanders said of Young Wednesday on "The Rich Eisen Show." "I hope nobody is worried about the height, but I like him, and we got a bright future ahead."

Small QBs aren't the NFL prototype. Dan Pompei of The Athletic reported only seven QBs have been under 6 feet out of the 368 who have played in the league since 2000.

Teams avoid risking it on undersized QBs because they may have durability problems and struggle with batted passes at the line of scrimmage, so doubts about Young — the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — are valid.

Nonetheless, the 21-year-old could be an outlier because he possesses exceptional poise in the pocket.

"His pocket presence is amazing to me," Sanders said. "You think he's gonna get sacked, you think he's just looking, he's lost in there. But no — he's got his eyes downfield, and his release is quick, too. He lets it go quick, and it's accurate."

Young showing his teammates that he can stand tall in the pocket and deliver is an excellent sign for Carolina. The Panthers gambled on him, trading two first-rounders and WR D.J. Moore to Chicago to acquire the No. 1 pick. Plus, the franchise needs stability at QB after rotating through eight different starters since 2018.

Carolina hasn't made the postseason for five consecutive seasons. If Young transforms the Panthers into a team that consistently makes the playoffs, he will prove he's the right choice even though he doesn't fit the traditional mold for QBs.