2023 NFL Draft: Panthers select Bryce Young with No 1 pick

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The Carolina Panthers have made it official and selected Bryce Young out of Alabama to be their franchise quarterback.

Carolina was originally slated to pick ninth at season's end, but last month they sent that pick along with a 2024 first-round pick, wide receiver D.J. Moore, the 61st pick this year and a second-round pick in 2025 to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the top spot.

That was the start of what became a pretty busy offseason for Carolina, who signed wide receiver Adam Thielen and running back Miles Sanders. 

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Bryce Young of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Caesars Superdome on December 31, 2022, in New Orleans. ( Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The Panthers used three different starting quarterbacks last season while also trading away superstar running back Christian McCaffrey, yet they remained in playoff contention until the very end of the season. But now they hope that the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner will be the guy for years to come.

In Young's two full seasons as 'Bama's quarterback (27 games), he completed 65.9% of his passes (611 for 927) for 8,200 yards and 79 touchdowns as opposed to 12 interceptions. Had he not sprained his shoulder midseason, he very easily could have been a finalist for the Heisman again.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Most Outstanding Player trophy as he celebrates after the Sugar Bowl where Alabama defeated Kansas State, 45-20, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

AARON RODGERS