Finding a franchise quarterback is the quickest path to success so itB次元官网网址檚 no surprise teams made them a priority in the .

Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and were among the top four picks Thursday night, an expected result in a rich draft class thatB次元官网网址檚 been anticipated since last year. The surprise in the first round was that Will Levis didnB次元官网网址檛 hear his name called.

Young, the slender and dynamic Alabama quarterback, went No. 1 to the , seven weeks after the team made a blockbuster trade with Chicago to move up to get their choice.

The biggest question surrounding the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is size. He measured at 5-foot-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine. Though he dominated the SEC, some scouts and coaches fear Young may not be able to physically withstand all the hits in the NFL.

B次元官网网址淭hose that doubt me are entitled to their opinion,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚 think that is the beauty of sports. We all come together and have arguments on who you think is good or not. I choose to focus on what I can control.B次元官网网址�

didnB次元官网网址檛 have to wait long despite speculation he may drop out of the top 10 after scoring poorly in the S2 Cognition test. He told the AP earlier in the day he didnB次元官网网址檛 know where he would end up going but Houston snagged him at No. 2. The Texans then made a blockbuster deal with Arizona to acquire the No. 3 pick and selected Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 wait to play with Will,B次元官网网址� Stroud said. B次元官网网址淚 hope he doesnB次元官网网址檛 hit me too hard in practice.B次元官网网址�

Richardson was selected at No. 4 by the Indianapolis Colts, who will begin a sixth straight season with a different starting QB.

Richardson might have the most upside of the group but he has the least experience. He threw just 393 passes at Florida. Colts owner Jim Irsay is fond of Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Richardson has similar playmaking ability.

HeB次元官网网址檒l play for Shane Steichen, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when Hurts developed into an MVP runner-up.

B次元官网网址淚 know what he did with Hurts but I am excited to get to work with him,B次元官网网址� Richardson said. B次元官网网址淗e has told me we are going to do great things so I am looking forward to it.B次元官网网址�

Heading into the draft, there was no certainty beyond the No. 1 pick and even that wasnB次元官网网址檛 a lock. Some thought KentuckyB次元官网网址檚 Levis would be the second QB taken but he slipped out of the first round. TennesseeB次元官网网址檚 Hendon Hooker, who is coming off ACL surgery, also wasnB次元官网网址檛 taken on the first day.

New Panthers coach Frank Reich said earlier in the week that the organization only after several weeks of deliberation.

B次元官网网址淚 learned so much in my short time there,B次元官网网址� Young said of his visit with the Panthers. B次元官网网址淚t is an amazing staff. You can tell there is an energy, focus, drive and will to win.B次元官网网址�

A dual-threat playmaker with a strong arm and an elite combination of instincts and intelligence, Young also possesses the intangibles and characteristics coaches desire, including leadership ability and a strong work ethic.

The Panthers have sought an answer at quarterback since moving on from Cam Newton, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and the NFL MVP in 2015 when he led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance.

Young had a spectacular career at Alabama and the Panthers are hoping he can deliver the franchiseB次元官网网址檚 first Lombardi Trophy. He played in a pro-style offense under offensive coordinator Bill OB次元官网网址橞rien, the former Texans head coach who has returned to the NFL to run New EnglandB次元官网网址檚 offense.

Stroud, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy the past two seasons at Ohio State, goes to Houston to help the rebuilding Texans move past Deshaun Watson. ItB次元官网网址檚 the ninth time two QBs went 1-2 and the first time it was two Black QBs.

B次元官网网址淚 hope that inspired a lot of Black children,B次元官网网址� Stroud said.

After the run on QBs, defense-needy Seattle took Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 and the wheeling-and-dealing Cardinals moved up to No. 6 to select Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson. Las Vegas then chose Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson and Atlanta made Bijan Robinson the first running back taken in the top 10 since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the Giants in 2018.

NFC champion Philadelphia moved up one spot to take troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9 and Chicago went with Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the 10th pick. The Eagles got CarterB次元官网网址檚 teammate, edge Nolan Smith, at No. 30.

At No. 11, the Titans passed on Levis for Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also passed on Levis at No. 19, taking Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

It took until the 20th pick for the first wide receiver to go. The Seahawks chose Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That started a run of four wideouts in a row. The Chargers then took Quentin Johnston, the Ravens grabbed Zay Flowers to team up with Odell Beckham Jr., and the Vikings added Jordan Addison to go with Justin Jefferson.

Two months after the hometown Kansas City Chiefs celebrated another Super Bowl title with a downtown parade, a sea of red-clad fans lined up in the streets where the century-old Union Station served as the backdrop for the draft.

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce walked on stage with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and riled up the crowd before turning it over to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Mahomes implored fans to scream louder B次元官网网址� they did. Kelce asked if they wanted to trade up for the No. 1 pick.

But the Chiefs donB次元官网网址檛 need a QB. Carolina, Houston and Indianapolis did.

If they got the right one, they might be set for a decade or longer.

B次元官网网址擱ob Maaddi, The Associated Press

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