NFL analyst compares Bryce Young to Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater combo

NFL.com analytics expert Cynthia Frelund broke down all of the 2023 NFL Draft’s top quarterbacks and their historical comparisons. She says former Alabama star QB Bryce Young is a mix between Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater and even a bit of Drew Brees.

Both Young and Brees are/were undersized for the average NFL quarterback entering the league and share similar pinpoint accuracy while making intermediate throws from a clean pocket. Still, Frelund wanted to make a more recent comparison and found the best fits being Tagovailoa and Bridgewater, who were teammates on the Miami Dolphins this past season.

“In addition to Brees, Young shares his accuracy from the pocket with Tagovailoa; both Young and the Dolphins QB excel at making plays with multiple reads and progressions,” Frelund wrote. “Tagovailoa (6-1) is taller than Young, but he is also outside of the current median range in QB height, and he was similarly prolific with the Crimson Tide.

“… Young’s passing platform is similar to Bridgewater’s in terms of hip movement and leg placement. In his two most recent seasons as a regular starter (2020 and ’21), Bridgewater ranked eighth in completion rate (68.1%) among those to attempt at least 200 passes. I also see Bridgewater’s change-of-direction speed on runs.

Regarding the Tagovailoa comparison, Frelund explained that in the past 15 years, he has had the best passer rating (95.0), with a 65.7 percent completion rate and a TD-to-INT ratio of 52:23 of first-round QBs drafted in the first round over that period. Being undersized never shook Tagovailoa, and Frelund expects similar success from Young.

Frelund continued, explaining why Young had the best college film of any QB in this year’s draft cycle. Young led all Division I QBs in passing yards (2,363) and passing touchdowns (27) while under pressure in throughout his Alabama career, per PFF. His accuracy under pressure increased when off-balance each year he was in Tuscaloosa.

The best team fit for Young, regardless of draft picks, are the Houston Texans.

“The potential for Young to have extended dropbacks and/or more time in the pocket playing behind a tackle of Laremy Tunsil‘s caliber makes this a nice match, as should Young’s familiarity with former Alabama receiver John Metchie,” Frelund wrote.

Young won’t have to wait very long to hear his name called when the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 27, as most draft experts expect him to be the first or second QB off the board.