Even though Carolina coach Frank Reich said it takes “years, not weeks” to evaluate quarterbacks, Oct. 29 became the point of comparison as soon as the Panthers chose Alabama quarterback Bryce Young No. 1 and the Houston Texans selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud No. 2 in the NFL Draft on April 27.

On Sunday, the Texans and Panthers will square off at noon CDT in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Houston has a 3-3 record. Stroud has completed 127-of-213 passes for 1,660 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception and run for 55 yards on 18 carries. Stroud set an NFL record for the most passes from the start of a career without an interception with 191.

Carolina has an 0-6 record. Young has completed 115-of-182 passes for 967 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions and run for 65 yards on eight carries. Young missed the third game of the season with an ankle injury.

“We got the guy we wanted to get,” Reich said when asked about second-guessing the Carolina choice based on the early returns. “Couldn’t be happier about that in every way. And I would say this: I’m happy for C.J. He’s had six good games, and I have no doubt he’ll have many more good games. But I know this: When it comes to evaluating quarterbacks or any position, it’s years, not weeks. You can’t put a label on a guy after six weeks or even a year. …

“You look at the film, you talk to the man, you get a sense for the leader, the player and what he is and what he can be and how he fits to what we want to do in the vision that we have as an offense, as a team and as an organization, we got the guy for us. And I’m sure Houston feels they got the guy for them. That’s great. I think it’s great for the NFL. It’s great for our two guys. I think we’re both very happy with where we’re at and the direction we’re going.”

Sunday’s game will be the first football matchup between the quarterbacks since Young’s Inland Empire Ducks took on Stroud’s Pomona Valley Steelers in youth football in California.

“They put it to us,” Stroud said. “I remember he had a really good game. I played terrible. So this will be our second time playing each other, I believe.”

Young and Stroud were on opposing teams when Alabama defeated Ohio State 52-24 in the CFP national-championship game for the 2020 season. But Young was the backup for Mac Jones, and Stroud was a redshirt freshman.

“That’s my brother, man,” Stroud said of Young. “Somebody I have a lot of respect for. Known him since middle school. Got really close probably after high school. Always rooting for him. Know he’s always rooting for me. …

“It’s cool just to see somebody as their journey’s gone from high school to college and now into the league. It’s a blessing to have a brother like that to go through the same type of struggle, the same type of pressure and things like that, so we talk about that stuff in the offseason and things like that, so it’s a blessing to have somebody like that in my life.”

Young had a similar description to joining his friend as the first two picks in an NFL Draft and as pro quarterbacks.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Young said. “It’s definitely a blessing, but it’s crazy. That’s definitely not something that either one of us probably could have really thought about or fathomed back then. It’s crazy how things have turned out. …

“There’s never going to be a time I’m not rooting for C.J., I guess outside of, for obvious reasons, maybe this weekend would be the exception.”

Stroud isn’t Young’s only friend on the Texans. At Alabama, Young played with Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr., wide receiver John Metchie III and linebackers Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o.

“Honestly, it is really surreal just going over the scouting report and watching film,” Young said, “and I still get happy just seeing people that I know, that I’m cool with and I’m friends with and watching them play when I’m watching film and watching us in NFL uniforms. It is still surreal.

“On Sunday, of course, we’ll all be very focused. We both want to win. We’re obviously going to be in the moment there. But looking back on it, it’s going to be cool just to be able to share the field with a lot of people I’m close with.”

Houston’s coach also is an Alabama alumnus – former Crimson Tide All-American linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

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“Bryce has done a really good job this year with what he’s been given,” Ryans said. “He’s made some good decisions with the football. He’s made some really nice plays, so really encouraged by Bryce and his play and what he’s done. We have our hands full this week for sure. …

“It’s tough on rookie quarterbacks with what they’re asked to do coming in. It’s a lot on their plates. But I think both guys have handled it pretty well.”

Not all the evaluations of the two quarterbacks’ play so far have been put so positively in Young’s case, but the Carolina QB isn’t making comparisons.

“I try to be internally motivated and run my own race,” Young said.

Stroud said he thought Young had played well despite Carolina’s record.

“I don’t think in any way, aspect or form is he playing bad,” Stroud said. “That’s what people think if you’re not winning, you have a turnover here or there. Bryce’s playing some really good football. I just don’t think people watch in depth.

“If you’re a quarterback, you know.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.