The quarterback odds have flipped two weeks before the opening round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Former Alabama product Bryce Young has moved past Ohio State star CJ Stroud as the new consensus betting favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick, according to multiple sports books.
The Panthers have the top pick in this year’s draft, followed by the Texans, who reportedly favor Young as their next franchise quarterback.
The Heisman Trophy winner visited the Panthers on Tuesday followed by the Texans on Wednesday — a trip ESPN’s Adam Schefter considered “a waste of time.”
“I think the ship has sailed,” Schefter said of a potential Texans-Young pairing Wednesday on “NFL Live.”
“I think Bryce Young is going to be the No. 1 pick. [The Texans] are not going to have a chance to take the guy that, I think, they would have liked to have taken.”
Schefter added Wednesday that Stroud is set to travel to Carolina next week, when he “will come in on a visit, and will try to impress the Panthers officials, and I think, try to change their mind about the No. 1 overall pick.”
Young, however, has been linked to the Panthers for some time.
In fact, ESPN’s Todd McShay said on “First Draft” last month that a source told him “Young is already their guy at that No. 1 spot” in Carolina.
Houston met with 6-foot-4, 220-pound Stroud last week.
The Texans hold the 2nd and 12th overall picks in the draft as part of 13 total selections.
They’re believed to be prioritizing a quarterback after losing Deshaun Watson to the Browns in March 2022.
However, a separate ESPN report alleged Thursday that Houston has Will Anderson Jr. ranked as its top prospect — and could select the Alabama edge-rusher if the Panthers take Young first overall.
If Texans CEO Cal McNair opts for a quarterback, Houston could potentially look to Stroud.
Young was a -300 favorite on Thursday at Caesars Sportsbook, while Stroud was a +180 underdog.
Kevin Lawler, head of trading at sportsbook PointsBet, said he saw an increase in Young from bettors after his pro day workout in Alabama on March 23.
At 5-10 and 204 pounds, Young’s size has been a red flag for some draft analysts.
Regardless, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans doesn’t consider Young’s build to be an issue.
“For Bryce, I know it’s a lot, going on to talk about his size,” Ryans recently said. “The guy has done it at the highest level in college football and size hasn’t seemed to be a problem. I don’t see it as an issue because you watch the tape, and you put on the tape, and you see the kid play, and you see how smart he is.
“You see the anticipation. You see the accuracy. You see how this guy is calm in critical moments. When you see those things, size isn’t one of the factors that pop up on tape that’s like, ‘Oh, man, it’s a problem.’
“Again, you just look at the track record, see what he’s done in the SEC, highest level of college football he’s been successful, and I think he’ll be successful in the NFL, as well.”
In two seasons as Alabama’s starter, Young threw for 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions.
As for Stroud, he passed for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season.
He finished his college career with 7,775 passing yards, 81 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.