Bryce Young Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers LB compares rookie Bryce Young to star QB

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 8/4/23

Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson believes rookie quarterback Bryce Young can have the same effect on the downtrodden franchise as one of the biggest stars in the NFL.

"To me, [Bryce Young] is like a young Joe Burrow when he came in," Thompson recently said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio.

.@Panthers LB Shaq Thompson with a strong comparison for Carolina's rookie QB#KeepPounding | #CarolinaPanthers | @ShaqThompson_7 pic.twitter.com/j0oFGtjhkm
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 4, 2023

Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, following the same trajectory as the Cincinnati QB, would be ideal for Carolina. In his second season, the former No.1 overall pick led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. Last season, Pro Football Focus gave him and league MVP Patrick Mahomes a grade of 92, the best among QBs.

Young's play style differs from Burrow's (6-foot-4, 221 pounds) since he's a smaller QB (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) who relies on his mobility. Nonetheless, a Pro Football Hall of Famer believes they share essential qualities premier passers need.

"Talking to real scouts, Burrow is the guy that comes to mind," Peyton Manning recently said on ESPN's "On The Clock" while watching Young's film. "Because of the sixth sense in the pocket, the decision making, processing information quickly, and I'm not saying Bryce is going to have the same success as Joe right away. But I think the instincts that Joe has Bryce has. The ability to beat the coverage keeps a lot of plays alive."

Since the comparison to Burrow isn't unwarranted, the 22-year-old could have the same impact in Carolina.

The Panthers last made the postseason in 2017. Young becoming an elite QB would transform them into a club that consistently makes the playoffs.

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