Bama in the NFL: Carolina Panthers Betting Future on Bryce Young

For the first time since the early days of the NFL draft, Alabama had a player selected first overall. But the Panthers have selected quarterbacks in the first round before, with mixed results.

The Carolina Panthers have been here before. 

Even though the franchise is one of the youngest in the National Football League, like the other 31 it's been on a continual search to improve, especially at quarterback. Since that first regular draft in 1995, the Panthers have used 11 selections on the position (one every 2.5 years), with the players ranging from Jimmy Clausen to Chris Weinke.

Four of those quarterbacks, including Clausen, where top-five overall selections, dating back to Kelly Collins in that first first draft, and two were the first pick overall. Of course we're talking about former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton to 2011, and Alabama's Bryce Young, the last two Heisman Trophy winners at the rival schools. 

To suggest that Young might be another Newton-like quarterback isn't particularly fair as they're about as different as their height and weight  (Young is 5-10, 205 pounds soaking wet, while Newton's 6-5, 245). But the expectations that go with being the first-overall pick are absolutely comparable, and foreshadow how Young will be measured. 

Newton was the league's first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (2011). He was named league MVP during his lone All-Pro season, 2015, and led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50. 

But he also ran into injury problems and wasn't able to maintain his success longterm. Newton was never named to another Pro Bowl, and the Panthers reached the playoffs only once over the next four years. He was on the Patriots in 2020, and had a brief second stint with Carolina in 2021, but hasn't played with an NFL team since. 

Young has become the face of the franchise, where fans are hoping he'll be the Panthers' version of Drew Brees, an All-Pro who was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times, and, most importantly, won a Super Bowl.  

Bama in the NFL: Carolina Panthers

The Franchise

National Football Conference 

South Division

Founded: 1995

Stadium: Bank of America Stadium (capacity 73,778)

Playing Surface: FieldTurf Vertex CORE

Training Camp: Wofford College

All-Time Alabama Players

1. Jay Barker, QB, 1996
2. Bradley Bozeman, C, 2022
3. Thomas Fletcher, LS, 2021
4. Brandon Greene, OT, 2019
5. Roman Harper, DB, 2014 - 2015
6. Robert Lester, DB, 2013 - 2014
7. Kris Mangum, TE, 1997 - 2006
8. Evan Mathis, OG, 2005 - 2007
9. Christian Miller, LB, 2019 - 2020
10. Kindal Moorehead, DE, 2003 - 2007
11. Kevin Norwood, WR, 2015
12. Andre Royal, LB, 1995 - 1997
13. DeAndrew White, WR, 2019

Crimson Tide Players Drafted

Year	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Overall
2003	Kindal Moorehead	DE	5	10	145
2005	Evan Mathis	G	3	15	79
2019	Christian Miller	LB	4	13	115
2021	Deonte Brown	G	6	9	193
2021	Thomas Fletcher	LS	6	38	222
2023	Bryce Young	QB	1	1	1

Super Bowl Appearances

Roman Harper and Kevin Norwood, Super Bowl L, Feb. 7, 2016

Denver's defense dominated in the 24-10 victory while yielding just 194 yards. Carolina had led the league with 500 points scored but was held to its fewest of the season. Harper had two tackles 

Notable Awards/Honors

None of Alabama's former players with the Carolina Panthers have been an All-Pro selection or named to the Pro Bowl. 

Crimson Tide NFL Team Rundown: Carolina Panthers

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the fifth story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.AFC

• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills

NFC

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons

See Also

Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team