Mel Kiper Jr. reveals 'key concern' about Bryce Young

Bryce Young had a decorated career at Alabama, and many believe he’s the best quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, some analysts are pressing pause on Young over some interesting concerns.

During ESPN’s mock draft special, Mel Kiper Jr. revealed that while he’s a fan of Young — even comparing him to Patrick Mahomes at times — there’s one thing that worries him about the former Crimson Tide quarterback’s NFL future.

“Holding up physically is the key concern,” stated Kiper. “You saw him injured this past year at Alabama. He only started two years, right? Backed up Mac Jones. The NFL’s a different entity.

“Quarterbacks go down, Adam [Schefter] covers it every week, injuries to somebody. They’re bigger, stronger, more physically imposing than Bryce Young. Holding up, definitely, I put the bar at 195. 195 or higher, for me, is QB1. Less than 195, he’s QB2.”

Alas, Young’s slight frame is going to be the talk of the league throughout the draft process. If he was bigger in stature, he’d be considered among Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence prospect-wise.

Nevertheless, Bryce Young will make an NFL team happy come April, but the debate over his potential will be endless until then.

Todd McShay: Bryce Young an ‘upgrade’ over Justin Fields for Chicago Bears

The moment Chicago landed the No. 1 overall spot in the 2023 NFL Draft, the thought was Ryan Poles would trade the pick. Too many teams behind the Bears are considered quarterback hungry, while Justin Fields is considered a franchise guy. Chicago can grab another elite prospect somewhere in the top 10 and continue to build the roster.

Not everybody buys into that plan though. ESPN’s Todd McShay said if he was running the Bears, he would get rid of Fields instead of the first pick. McShay would then go out and “upgrade” at quarterback with Alabama‘s Bryce Young in late April.

“Personally, I would take Bryce Young if I was Chicago,” McShay said. “I don’t think that’s the decision they make. I think they’re going to move back… I would do it because I would want Bryce Young because I think he’s an upgrade over Justin Fields and I want his rookie contract so I have five years. But I don’t think they’re going to wind up making that decision.”

Fields will be entering Year Three in the NFL himself, heading into the latter stages of his rookie contract. Chicago moved up to select him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Even with a head coach and front office change, Fields has survived the storm thus far.

Young is coming off two great seasons with Alabama, winning the Heisman Trophy during the 2021 season. While not everyone has him as the top quarterback in the draft, McShay certainly does.

Making a pseudo-switch of Fields for Young would certainly shake up the entire NFL. Poles would need a lot of guts to move off someone who many Bears fans consider the guy. However, never say never in the NFL.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this article.