Cam Newton backs Bryce Young amid size concerns

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has no worries about the club drafting Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young first overall on Thursday night.

As shared by Gio Rivera of NESN, Newton declared on his YouTube channel that the Carolina general manager, head coach and owner should be all-in on taking Young regardless of what any critics may have to say on the matter. 

"And we all know the upside, we all know he went to Alabama, we all know that he has an incredible arm," Newton added about Young. 

This week, alone, analysts such as Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network and ESPN's Todd McShay named Young the top prospect in this year's draft class. Nevertheless, individuals such as CBS Sports' Pete Prisco simply can't get past the fact that the young quarterback measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds at the combine and then curiously declined to weigh in before his throwing session at Alabama's pro day. 

Young has routinely pointed out he has "been playing with a lot of people that have been bigger than me my entire life," and he humorously said Wednesday that he "can’t grow" and "can’t get any taller" before draft night. 

Meanwhile, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer and Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans are among members of the NFL community who have brushed aside size concerns regarding Young. Specifically, Ryans mentioned how important it is for a QB1 to "galvanize a locker room, rally the troops and get guys to believe in him." 

Newton, drafted No. 1 by the Panthers in 2011, echoed Ryans' take. 

"This is how I judge quarterbacks as a whole: Everybody can throw," Newton continued. "Everybody has talent. Everybody has upside. Everybody has intangibles, but the thing that everybody doesn’t have, and it’s simple, is leadership. And you can get a (expletive) to follow you." 

Assuming Young can stay healthy, he could prove to be the best quarterback Carolina has had since Newton earned Most Valuable Player honors while with the organization.