Teams were enamored with the prospect of drafting a player like Bryce Young, but there has always been one hold-up — his size.
That didn’t seem to matter to the Carolina Panthers, though, as they made the 5-foot-10, 204-pound Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite size concerns, the Panthers had no qualms in making Young the team’s quarterback of the future, as they parted with significant draft capital to trade up and be able to draft the former Alabama Crimson Tide star.
Since being drafted by the Panthers, Young has made his way to the team facility in Charlotte and has had the opportunity to meet some of his teammates. Young caught up with two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns in the team’s locker room, and that photo op has since gone viral.
Bryce Young 🤝 Brian Burns pic.twitter.com/p5pACP3g3y
— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) April 30, 2023
There’s a stark contrast between Young and Burns. And while Burns is considered undersized for an NFL edge rusher, the team website lists the 25-year-old at 6-foot-5, 250-pounds. Burns has six inches and 46 pounds on Young, and looks every bit as big.
The NFL world reacted to the viral photo on social media and a lot of Twitter users seemed concerned about Young going up against NFL defenders, many of whom may be just a bit bigger than Burns.
Son is Bryce body gonna hold up? It’s gonna be open season for free blitzers 😭 https://t.co/v1tE434ZIp
— OTB. (@ObeyTheBoss___) May 1, 2023
He’s so tiny https://t.co/suwUb1Tc3Q
— Kevin D. Water Law (@docKev_) May 1, 2023
I love Bryce but he so small https://t.co/WqXr1C3H4n
— Chris (@Chri21opher) May 1, 2023
Nah this gotta be fake man, looks like a scene from All American when they try to bring in a real NFL player with actors lol https://t.co/ZLN1CfeD5y
— Certified Big Baller 🍯🌹 (@Austin_HQ) May 1, 2023
https://twitter.com/KesusWalks/status/1652994997258448897?s=20
Bryce Young is going to be getting chased after by guys like this. Yikes https://t.co/Lm7fLrjwtq
— Sadeek 🪐 (@SadeekNextWave) May 1, 2023
This photo is hilarious https://t.co/5i6EG0RtGx
— Ghost of Justin Fields Seafood Boil (@hypertron85) May 1, 2023
Brian Burns is a small EDGE by NFL standards in case you were wondering. https://t.co/phu4AgSF65
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) May 1, 2023
Burns could eat that man in a single sitting https://t.co/ELxQHVHBJY
— Sporticus (@SPORTICUS_CARDS) May 1, 2023
You're doing this on purpose now https://t.co/xm8LwICZtu
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) May 1, 2023
[Image via Michael Rimmer on Twitter]
