Welcome to the first daily installment of the NFL Draft 1-through-32 series on DK Pittsburgh Sports, intended to introduce you, a prospect at a time, to the top 32 players in the class on a consensus basis, leading right up to the main event.
That, of course, will be April 27-29, in Kansas City, Mo., though all 32 teams, including the Steelers on the South Side, will operate from their local headquarters.
NO. 1: BRYCE YOUNG
Alabama quarterback
Young's the No. 1-rated player on Pro Football Focus' Big Board, and he just might be headed to Charlotte, N.C., as the Panthers' first pick.
COLLEGE BACKGROUND
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner ended his career second in Alabama history in passing yards (8,356, behind A.J. McCarron's 9,019) and passing touchdowns (80, behind Tua Tagovailoa's 87). Young earned the MVP of the Sugar Bowl in Alabama's 45-20 win over Kansas State after completing 15 of 21 passes for 321 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He completed 65.8% of his passes, threw just 12 interceptions, and registered a rating of 165.5 in his three-year career at Alabama.
The Santa Ana, Calif. native was a five-star prospect and one of the best in the country in the class of 2020, ranking No. 2 overall in the 247Sports composite prospect rankings behind Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. He chose Alabama over USC, among 28 total offers, out of high school.
He measured at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds with a 30.5-inch arm length and a 9.75-inch hand width. at the NFL Combine after measuring at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds out of high school.
Recruiting profiles have always had him tabbed as a savvy quarterback beyond his years, and he showed that in three years with the Crimson Tide.
NFL COMBINE, PRO DAY
Young received a prospect grade of 6.82 after the NFL Combine, which rates him, to no surprise, as a Year 1 starter. NFL Next Gen Stats graded him at a 92, which is considered "elite" within its system. Both grades ranked the highest among all quarterbacks which tested at the Combine. His prospect grade checked in fourth overall, and his Next Gen Stats grade ranked third overall.
Young did not throw at the Combine, but turned in strong results in his Pro Day Wednesday. He completed 44 of 50 passes within the session, but reports out of Tuscaloosa say two of them were dropped and two more hit the low-hanging roof of the indoor facility. The two misfires were overthrows on deep balls, which missed by less than an additional step from the wide receiver.
MOCK DRAFT
Per the USA Today mock draft consensus tracker, Young averages a draft slot of 2.167 overall. Our most-recent mock draft has Young going to Carolina at No. 1.
This has a great chance of coming to fruition, as Carolina, Houston, and Indianapolis -- pick Nos. 1, 2, and 4, respectively -- each are in dire need of quarterback. Barring a picks trade, Young should not last past Indianapolis, and if for some reason he does, one of Detroit, Las Vegas, and Atlanta at pick Nos. 6, 7, and 8 will surely gobble him up and make him the face of their franchise.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE STEELERS' STANDPOINT
Eh. It's not like they're taking a quarterback, and it's not like any of the upper-echelon quarterbacks will fall as far as No. 17, anyway.
COREY'S TAKE
One of those three of the top four teams better not overthink this. Young is, easily, one of the best quarterbacks available in this draft, despite some criticism about his size. He is the most accurate passer in this draft and is relatively polished for the position given his age.
Does he bring the same pop and play-making ability that Ohio State's C.J. Stroud or Florida's Anthony Richardson bring at the position?
Probably not. But, on the surface, Young seems to be the safe bet among these top three quarterbacks and should easily go first, second, or fourth in this draft. (Third are the Cardinals, and they have Kyler Murray. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if they draft a QB!?)
