When Bryce Young was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, no one expected his rookie year to go the way it did.
The Carolina Panthers went 2-15 and allowed opposing teams to score a total of 416 points. The head coach was fired, and the defense and offense struggled to improve. Young was sort of thrown to the wolves, and many thought the Panthers’ offseason would consist of new additions and a plan to help the quarterback.
It wasn’t enough. With two losses to start the 2024 campaign, the Carolina Panthers decided to bench Young for veteran QB Andy Dalton.
What did the Carolina Panthers do to help Bryce Young?
After trading DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears, the Panthers lost a highly effective offensive player who would’ve been Young’s top wide receiver.
The team added Adam Thielen for a veteran presence, but a lot more needed to be done. Andy Dalton has more experience, and the benching could be a chance for Young to sit back and learn, a luxury he didn’t have in his rookie season.
It’s crucial to understand that the proper development of quarterbacks is a key factor in a team’s success. While a few quarterbacks enter the league with dominance, most need time to become the best at the most imperative position on the team.
Young’s college stats prove he can put in work to lead Carolina to success.
His exceptional college career led to being selected No. 1 overall.
Bryce Young had the world in a frenzy about whether he’d be a great quarterback during the 2023 NFL Combine.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback had a stellar college football career. He debuted as their starting quarterback in 2021 and set the school record for most passing yards in a single game (559). Young also won the Heisman Trophy in the same year.
Overall, Bryce had over 8,000 passing yards and completed 624 of 949 passing attempts. He also had 80 touchdowns/12 interceptions, and rushed for seven touchdowns. Yet, people were so infatuated with his 5’10 height that they claimed he was too small for the league. Others thought it didn’t matter because he was effective.
Despite social media chatter and NFL insider rumors, the young athlete’s skills impressed various teams.
The Chicago Bears traded the pick to Carolina, who needed a QB. Carolina gave the Bears DJ Moore, a 2023 ninth overall pick (which became OL Darnell Wright), a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick (which became the No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams), and a 2025 second-round pick.
This is nowhere near the end of Bryce’s career as a starter.
The 23-year-old has so much untapped potential and can be a franchise quarterback. Being benched isn’t something he expected, but it may be best for his career in the long run.
If, for whatever reason, he doesn’t work out in Carolina, he’d be a great quarterback for another team. Under the right system and organization, Young will thrive.
Photo credit: Instagram/ @BryceYoung
