Scout's view: While C.J. Stroud sizzles, Bryce Young fizzles — should the Panthers be worried?

Daniel Kelly spent four years in pro scouting with the New York Jets. He is the published author of the book "Whatever It Takes," the story of a fan making it into the NFL.

QB Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, has been one of my more difficult evaluations — both at Alabama and in the NFL.

I went from putting a seventh-round grade on Young during his 2021 Heisman Trophy-winning season to making him my pre-draft QB1. It's the most significant jump in grading I've ever handed out. What changed? Young took command of the pocket and his downfield ball placement greatly improved — key indicators of what it takes to succeed in the NFL. 

However, Young hasn't found success yet in the NFL, where defenses are giving him fits. His QBR is 24.9, the lowest in the league. (QBR, released in 2011 by ESPN, incorporates all of a quarterback's contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties. It's much more reflective of a QB's true value than the traditional passer rating.)

Young's lack of success stands in stark contrast to the play of Houston rookie C.J. Stroud, who already has two 300-plus-yard passing games and hasn't thrown an interception. Young, meanwhile, hasn't thrown for more than 204 yards in a game and has two interceptions. Stroud (6-foot-3, 218 pounds) looks the part of an NFL QB. The more slightly built Young (5-10, 204) has not.

The former Alabama star, however, has shown steady improvements in his completion percentage (he missed Week 3 with an injury.): 

• Week 1: 52.6% vs. Falcons
• Week 2: 66.7% vs. Saints
• Week 4: 78.1% vs. Vikings 

On film, the first thing that stood out for me was how comfortable Young looked in the pocket against Atlanta but how hurried he appeared versus New Orleans. Against Minnesota, he seemed to find his groove. In all three games, he went through his progressions and flashed an ability to create and extend plays. 

Another encouraging sign for me is Young's perseverance. He really battled in the opener against New Orleans, throwing a fourth-quarter TD pass in a loss, and driving down the field late in the fourth quarter against the Vikings before the drive stalled. 

Earlier this week, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky — a journeyman QB in the NFL — also found additional reasons for hope with Young.