Bryce Young addresses concerns about weight, explains how he handled outside noise

Bryce Young didn’t participate in the drills at the NFL scouting combine on Saturday, but the former Alabama star was still a big part of the discussion coming in. A lot has been made about his frame and how it’d translate to the NFL, and he opened up about those concerns head-on after the quarterbacks finished up.

“It wasn’t, really, too big for me,” Young told NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl. “I wanted to be at the best weight that I thought was best for me, so that was really a point of emphasis just for my growth. I know everyone had an opinion and it was super valid. But for me, I was kind of just focusing on what I feel like would get me more prepared for the next level.”

Young officially checked in at 5-foot-10 and 1/8 inch, 204 pounds with his official measurements. Much of the discussion entering the combine was about his size, especially considering he could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

But he’s not locking in on one specific number. He wants to put himself in the best position to succeed in the NFL, whatever that weight might be.

“I think I feel pretty good where I’m at,” Young said. “It was good for me to be able to just focus on training and nutrition and all that in this break from when I was playing to preparing for the combine. I think this is something that’s new for me, a little bit. But I’ve been working out, training and still feel good. I feel good where I’m at.”

Despite the concerns about his size, Young’s game is the reason teams are so enamored with him in the pre-draft process. He’s proven to be elusive in the pocket, and that’s a skill he doesn’t take for granted.

“I definitely take pride in it,” Young said. “In a perfect world, you can sit in the pocket and go through your reads. Sometimes, it doesn’t go like that. For me, I try to make sure I remain a passer, try to make the most efficient decisions for the team. That’s something I definitely pride myself in.”