Panthers GM says he hasn't told anybody who'll be No. 1 pick

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer made it clear Tuesday that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has not been told he will be the top pick of the NFL draft.

Fitterrer's comment came 24 hours after Young had canceled the rest of his pre-draft visits. Carolina has the No. 1 overall pick when the draft begins on April 27.

«That was a decision he made on his own,'' Fitterer said at the team's pre-draft press conference. „I just refer you to his reps and to Bryce as to the why.''

With speculation intensifying that Young will be the top pick over Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Fitterer also made it clear that Young's size (5-10, 204 pounds) will not be a factor.

Fitterer reminded he was in Seattle in 2012 when the Seahawks selected 5-11 Russell Wilson in the third round, and that Wilson had only three balls batted down at the line of scrimmage his final year at Wisconsin. He then noted Young had only two this past season.

“This doesn't seem to be an issue,'' Fitterer said of Young's height. „When you grow up a shorter quarterback, you learn how to evolve your game and adapt and see the field. He's done that.''

Stroud, who was at Bank of America Stadium for his pre-draft visit Tuesday, was considered the early favorite to be the top pick because, at 6-3, he closer resembled every quarterback that new Carolina coach Frank Reich has worked with over the past 17 years.

Reich's never had a starting quarterback under 6-2.

But over the last few weeks, with Reich insisting Young's height wasn't a factor and many draft analysts agreeing Young was the better quarterback in large part because of his ability to process, momentum has shifted to Alabama's 2021 Heisman Trophy winner.

Fitterer reiterated that