In a perfect world, there’s teams who dream of having the perfect franchise
quarterback. For the Carolina Panthers, drafting Alabama quarterback and
Heisman Winner Bryce Young first overall in 2023. From the pre-draft process,
Carolina’s front office was sold on the Crimson Tide product who played with NFL
talent and could change life for the better. But here’s the biggest issue: he’s
undersized and can’t process the game as he should.
Through sixteen games into his young career, two wins total in a short amount of
time. Carolina gave up draft equity to solve the most important position in
football. Trading away wide receiver DJ Moore, number 9 pick in 2023, a 2 nd round
pick in 2023 and a 1 st round pick overall in 2024. In what appears to be a loss for
Carolina, it’s the tall tale of swinging and missing. Yes, when the trade was done
with Chicago, Panthers fans felt a little jilted. Confused, yet unsure if the issue was
truly solved.
In a quarterback class which featured Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony
Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis there were some options. In the process,
when a team is set on a guy, they roll with it. A young quarterback who became
the next and hopeful superstar quarterback in franchise history. Live arm, great
leadership and poised under pressure. Hiring and firing coaches within a year
apart doesn’t help. Frank Reich was “the quarterback whisperer,” but even he
couldn’t get it together. He too was gone after one season as head coach.
Surrounding your rookie quarterback with an offensive line would’ve helped and
giving him some arsenal.
After this short sample size three weeks into the season, head coach Dave Canales
benched Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. For a young quarterback who
didn’t add any upper body strength to withstand physical wear and tear plus not
knowing the playbook doesn’t set well with players. Credit his rookie year was cut
short due to injury, it doesn’t give you any excuses to not improve your
mechanics in processing the game at NFL speed.
If truth be told and I’ll say this very clear: C.J. Stroud has been the real deal folks!
From the moment he went throw for throw with eventual champion Georgia
Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff, Stroud should’ve been the first pick
overall. Carolina wanted a guy who could barely see over an offensive line and not
add any muscle to better his chances. As we’ve seen in Houston, Stroud had a
great 2023 rookie season: while leading the Texans to postseason play.
For Bryce Young, this is a learning curve in maturing and understanding the
importance of being an NFL quarterback. This isn’t college where you can be
coddled and protected. These are grown men who have families and play the
highest degree of difficulty each week. He needs to understand how to become a
better player and leader if he wants to keep a roster spot. Carolina has been in a
dumpster fire post Cam Newton and the revolving door of coaches/quarterbacks
is well known.
Owner Dave Tepper has run this team into the turf with no real plan for
constructing competitive rosters. Young will have to use this time and self-
evaluate his undoing. Nobody will feel sorry for a number one pick who hasn’t
lived up to the hype. No matter what school you played for, this is the National
Football League. With the Panthers getting a much needed win in Las Vegas as
Andy Dalton led the way, it’s a stark reminder Young isn’t safe beyond this point.
A rookie contract and several teams inquiring about his availability is surfacing.
Carolina can salvage Young’s stock and possibly get an overhaul of picks back for
the failed experiment. Rather that’s an ideal situation with the trade deadline
coming up in November, the Panthers have enough time to weigh their options as
what they’ll do for Bryce Young. If Andy Dalton plays well and has Carolina in
playoff contention, the decision can be made sooner than later.
For the fans sake, all they want is a winning team again they can cheer for. Pretty
sad when ticket prices are very, very cheap like fast food value meals. That tells
you all about the misdirection and mistakes made in falling from the NFL map.
What Young does from here on out will determine if he’s serious about continuing
his career. Rather it’s a trade or sit another year for developing, he must do the
work and take it one week at a time. There’s no guaranteed money after the 2025
season and it’ll be time for a new extension. He may be a Carolina Panther or
traded to say the Los Angeles Rams or Miami Dolphins, there’ll be teams out
there desperate enough to give up major draft compensation for an unpolished
quarterback.
Stai tuned.
