Tom Brady's advice to Bryce Young - All on 'even playing field' - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young's biggest takeaway from a recent conversation with NFL legend Tom Brady was that being the first pick of the 2023 NFL draft doesn't entitle him to anything.

«I have never thrown an NFL pass in a game,'' the Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback reminded everyone on Monday, the first day of OTAs. „I have no stats, no wins, nothing. We're all on an even playing field. Once you get into the league, where you get drafted, that doesn't entitle me to anything.

“I have to work. I have to work as hard as I can to make sure every day I'm trying to get better, every day I'm improving.''

That's what Brady made clear to Young and the other top quarterbacks — C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis — from the April draft, who on the first day of last week's NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles met with the seven-time Super Bowl champion at the home of Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin to discuss brand building.

Brady should know. Of himself and the six quarterbacks taken ahead of him in the 2000 draft, the 199th overall pick (sixth round) was the only one who had any sustained success.

He retired after last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 251 wins, 15 Pro Bowl selections and five Super Bowl MVP Awards in 23 seasons.

»There were a lot of gems, a lot of nuggets that I was able to take away,'' Young said. «I was able to ask him some questions about his career, kind of his mindset going toward it.

»For me, obviously being a young quarterback, I wanted to know things that he wished he knew at this age and things that he felt like were key for him to have success.''

Although Young doesn't consider himself entitled to anything as the top pick, he is getting treated in a way Brady never was in 2000 when