CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It was 5 p.m. Friday and Bryce Young finally finished with the fanfare, from his arrival at Bank of America Stadium in front of a large and boisterous crowd to the banging of the “Keep Pounding’’ drum to the hugs and handshakes with seemingly everyone associated with the Carolina Panthers.
The blue suit and collared white shirt he’d worn since leaving the NFL draft in Kansas City early that morning had been replaced by a Panthers’ T-shirt and casual slacks.
The first pick of the 2023 draft, who seemed almost embarrassed by the attention, was ready to talk football.