Mel Kiper makes historic distinction about Bryce Young's status as potential No. 1 pick

With the 2023 NFL Draft just two months away, questions still remain about which player will go atop the draft board. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said the “consensus” seems to be former Alabama star Bryce Young — but he’d make history because of his size.

Kiper joined Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s “Get Up” to talk about Young’s chances of going No. 1 overall in April. He said the former Heisman Trophy winner’s size is still a question mark considering his 5-foot-11, 197-pound frame. No matter what, though, Kiper said Young would be the first player of that stature to go with the top pick.

“I think you look at consensus you try to build when you talk to your friends in the National Football League, Greeny, when you do these mocks, Bryce Young’s size is a concern. No question about it,” Kiper said. “That weight, what will it be? … I think QB1 is still to be determined. I think the consensus, though, from the people I talk to is Bryce Young, but it’s not everybody, Greeny. That size is a big concern.

“Can he withstand punishment through a long NFL season? He only played two years at Alabama, had the shoulder this year. That is definitely a concern. We have never, in the history of the draft, had a quarterback go this high at that size.”

Mel Kiper: All four quarterbacks have questions ahead of 2023 NFL Draft

Kiper also ran through the questions he has about all the top quarterbacks in the draft, from C.J. Stroud to Will Levis to Anthony Richardson. With so many unknowns about them, he argued the top quarterback on the board is still yet to be decided even after he put Young No. 1 overall in his latest mock draft.

“In terms of C.J. Stroud, that Georgia game put him in the discussion [to be the No. 1 pick],” Kiper said. “We saw what he could do with his legs in that game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Will Levis, I contend, Greeny, had he been healthy all year and gotten some help from his o-line and his teammates and played like he did in 2021, we wouldn’t even have this discussion. Will Levis would be the No. 1 pick guaranteed. But that didn’t happen.

“[If] Anthony Richardson would’ve been in his second year and made improvement over what he did in year one, Anthony Richardson would’ve been No. 1 overall. But he only had 13 starts and we have inconsistent passing for a kid who’s supremely talented. There’s questions with all four, to a certain extent.”