


Aaron Rodgers appears to have a fan in the No. 1 overall pick.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, taken with the first selection in the NFL Draft this year, was effusive in his praise for the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who he has seen up close and personal during the Jets’ joint practices with the Panthers.
Young, 22, said Rodgers’ unorthodox style changed the way he thought about playing.
“He just opened that window, that door, for people to change arm angles,’’ Young said, labeling Rodgers’ influence on his style “huge.”
“There [once] was a negative stigma where you have to do this, you have to throw the same way every time. He was one of those main guys that was able to perform consistently and stuck to that and made that a part of who he was.’’
Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, stands at just 5-foot-10, which has forced him to improvise while throwing the ball to receivers.

The Alabama product threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns during the 2021 season, following that performance up with another 3,328-yard, 32-touchdown campaign.
Rodgers, 39, is a four-time MVP who the Jets traded for this year in an effort to contend immediately.
“I like the kid a lot, we share an agent,” Rodgers said of Young after Thursday’s practice. “So I’ve known about him for a long time. I loved watching him in college. I like his demeanor. I like his movement. I like the way he throws. … So I think Carolina is in good hands.”

Rodgers said he would tell Young to take a long-term perspective as he enters the league.
“Be gentle with yourself,” Rodgers said. “It’s a long journey. It feels like every little snap and practice is the end of the world if it doesn’t go right. It’s just not true. It’s a long, long journey. It’s about holding onto your confidence and enjoying the ride, enjoying the little things every day.
“But I think he’s got a great head on his shoulders, and he’ll be just fine.”