Panthers OC addresses Bryce Young size concerns

New Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has insisted he "never cared about" the size of quarterback Bryce Young leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. 

"It was never an issue, in my opinion, just for me," Brown said during a Tuesday news conference, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "He’s still playing football, so if we’re in a competition for the tallest, the biggest, the fastest — if it were an overall combine deal, then maybe so. For me personally, I never cared about it because I evaluate tape, I evaluate the person. I think about the projection to this level and Bryce is himself." 

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer made it known both before and after the draft he didn't lose sleep over the fact that Young was 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds at the combine earlier this offseason. Fitterer once compared Young to current Denver Broncos starter Russell Wilson, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds. Brown wanted nothing to do with such chatter. 

"I’m not interested in comparisons about who came before or what’s coming in the future," Brown said. "I try to look at everybody individually of what they can do and what they can bring to the table." 

The Panthers essentially went all-in on drafting Young with the first overall pick after they paid a massive price to acquire that asset from the Chicago Bears. Young impressed Panthers head coach Frank Reich during rookie minicamp workouts but nevertheless remains beneath veteran free-agency signing Andy Dalton on the depth chart.

"We’re just trying to do a really good job of trying to start those rookies off with base calls, introduction of our offense," Brown said of the club's handling of Young this spring. "Not overloading anybody — including him." 

Young ultimately may prove to be the top quarterback of his draft class, but Tuesday offered yet another reminder that his height and weight will continue to generate talking points within the NFL community until he silences such takes via impressive on-the-field performances.