ESPN draft expert reveals NFL comparison for Bryce Young

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is one of the most interesting players in the 2023 NFL Draft, in part because his size will likely give some NFL teams a bit of pause despite his excellent production. Is there an apt NFL comparison for the Crimson Tide quarterback, though?

According to ESPN you don’t have to look very hard for that NFL comparison.

In fact, you don’t even have to leave Tuscaloosa. In an ESPN+ by draft analyst Matt Miller, Tua Tagovailoa was suggested as the NFL comparison for Young.

Here’s what Miller wrote:

Young entered the 2022 season with high expectations as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and he answered the call with 3,328 passing yards, 32 TD throws and just five interceptions. He showed growth as a player, displaying poise, pocket awareness and field vision. There will be many questions about Young’s size (6-foot, 194 pounds), but his on-field work is that of a franchise quarterback.

Tagovailoa has certainly been a productive quarterback at the NFL level, and if teams can get similar production out of Young, they’re likely to burn an early-round pick on him.

Other ESPN analysts have also spoken glowingly of Young in the pre-draft process.

Todd McShay calls Bryce Young ‘next generation’ of NFL QBs

A long-time NFL Draft analyst, Todd McShay didn’t make an NFL comparison for Bryce Young, but he did offer some significant praise on a recent podcast appearance.

“I see (Bryce Young) as the next-generation type of guy,” McShay said. “He loves the game, he has such passion for it, he is such a great teammate. he’s intelligent, he processes quickly, but the important thing with his game is the ability to feel pressure, understand where it’s coming from and just deal with it.

“I was sitting in the GameDay bus with Kirk Herbstreit and we were talking about it: He is Steph Curry of college football and will be in the NFL.”

Why is that, exactly? For McShay, Young just always seems to make the right play at the right time.

He’s tremendous under pressure.

“Throw out the measurables, he’s just going to find a way to avoid contact and always be able to create and make that play that most quarterbacks can’t,” McShay said.

“That’s why I have Bryce Young as the No. 1 quarterback. I’ve got (Will) Levis as No. 3, I have CJ Stroud from Ohio State at No. 2 and Anthony Richardson, the most talented quarterback in the group but the least prepared, at No. 4.”