Bryce Young: The Smallest QB in the 2021 NFL Draft
Bryce Young is the most talented quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft class, yet he is also one of the smallest.[0] At Alabama, he was listed at 6 feet tall, 194 pounds, and at the NFL Scouting Combine, the numbers are a bit different.[1] Young was measured at 5-foot-10 and 1/8, 204 pounds, and his hand size is 9 and 3/4 inches.[2] He is similar to Arizona Cardinals signal caller Kyler Murray in nearly every category, who was the No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma in the 2019 draft.[2]
Young has been questioned about his size throughout the pre-draft process and he downplayed any concerns teams may have about it.[3] He said, “I’ve been this size, respectfully, my whole life. I know who I am, I know what I can do. For me, it's fair, everyone can speculate, ask me every question, I'm going to continue to control what I can control, continue to keep working my hardest. … I'm confident in myself, I know what I can do.”[4]
Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and in his two years as the Crimson Tide’s QB1 — both under new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien — completed 65.9 percent of his passes while throwing for 79 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.[5] He positioned himself well entering the draft, becoming the current favorite to be selected first overall in late April.[5]
Young would make history as the first QB taken in the first round to weigh less than 207 pounds, should he be selected.[1] He would join Kyler Murray, who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, who measured 5-10 1/8, 207 pounds, at the combine that year.[6]
Young's style of passing, which involves dropping back and only running when necessary, will not be successful in the NFL since the linemen are too fast for him.[7] In order for Young to succeed, he must make up for his smaller and lighter stature with exceptional skills in other areas.[8] He is spectacular in ways that his very good numbers don’t fully get across.[9] His vertical and broad jump at the combine were 38 inches and 11 feet, respectively, both very impressive figures.[10]
0. “Bryce Young’s NFL Combine measurements revealed, per report” Saturday Down South, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/bryce-youngs-nfl-combine-measurements-revealed-per-report
1. “NFL combine 2023: Alabama QB Bryce Young measures nearly identical to former No. 1 overall draft pick” CBS Sports, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2023-alabama-qb-bryce-young-measures-nearly-identical-to-former-no-1-overall-draft-pick
2. “NFL Combine 2023: Bryce Young checks in with official measurements, Alabama QB draws reaction” 247Sports, 4 Mar. 2023, https://247sports.com/Article/NFL-Combine-2023-Bryce-Young-checks-in-with-official-measurements-Alabama-QB-draws-reaction-205697148
3. “Alabama QB Bryce Young downplays size concerns” Colts Wire, 3 Mar. 2023, https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/03/nfl-draft-colts-bryce-young-downplays-size-concerns-2023/
4. “NFL Combine Shocker! Bryce Young Is…Short” OutKick , 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.outkick.com/nfl-combine-shocker-bryce-young-is-short/
5. “Mac Jones is mentoring the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft” Pats Pulpit, 3 Mar. 2023, https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/3/3/23623873/patriots-mac-jones-mentoring-potential-no-1-draft-pick-bryce-young
6. “QB Bryce Young measures 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine” ESPN, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35781355/qb-bryce-young-measures-5-10-1-8-204-pounds-nfl-combine
7. “Bryce Young is just over 5-10 and 204 pounds – ProFootballTalk” NBC Sports, 4 Mar. 2023, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/03/04/bryce-young-measured-at-just-over-5-10-weighs-204-pounds
8. “Bryce Young and the QB Size Dilemma” The Ringer, 3 Mar. 2023, https://www.theringer.com/nfl-draft/2023/3/3/23623742/bryce-young-height-short-nfl-combine-outlier
9. “NFL Draft: The Chicago Bears' Bryce Young vs. Justin Fields dilemma.” Slate, 28 Feb. 2023, https://slate.com/culture/2023/02/nfl-draft-chicago-bears-bryce-young-justin-fields.html
10. “Former Vols take part in NFL Combine” VolQuest, 4 Mar. 2023, https://tennessee.rivals.com/news/former-vols-take-part-in-nfl-combine
