NFL Analysis
9/15/24
4 min read
Carolina Panthers Should Bench Bryce Young Following Week 2 Loss vs. Chargers
It's time for the Carolina Panthers to have a difficult conversation about Bryce Young.
The former No. 1 overall pick struggled again in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Although he completed 18-of-26 pass attempts, he averaged just 3.2 yards per attempt for 84 yards and an interception in the loss.
The Panthers are now 0-2 and look like a team that could have the NFL's worst record for the second straight season. Young looks like a quarterback struggling to read defenses and completely lacks confidence when dropping back.
If that trend continues, the Panthers should consider cutting bait with Young and embracing another full-on rebuild.
The Numbers Behind Bryce Young's Struggles
Young is approaching territory as one of the worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL history.
It was a nightmare rookie season for Young, who threw just 11 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 16 games. He averaged a measly 5.5 yards per pass attempt with a passer rating of 73.7. He had the third-lowest passing grade among qualified quarterbacks last season, ahead of only Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones with the New England Patriots.
Young's numbers look even worse after two games in 2024. He's averaging 4.4 yards per attempt, throwing for just 245 yards and three interceptions on 56 passing attempts.
For as bad as those numbers are, the advanced metrics are even worse. According to RBSDM.com, Young has a negative 37 total expected points added (EPA). He had an unbelievable -23.5 total EPA on Sunday with an average depth of target of just 3.0 yards.
Young recorded the lowest EPA per dropback (-0.71), passing yards per attempt (3.2), and ADOT (3) of his career on Sunday.
Plus, his decision-making, even on off-script plays, remains baffling.
what is Bryce Young doing? pic.twitter.com/frBsgiE13n
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 15, 2024
This isn't all Young's fault. The Panthers' roster lacks legitimate playmaking talent. The wide receiver room is headlined by former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson, 34-year-old Adam Thielen, and an unproven rookie out of South Carolina, Xavier Leggette.
Young was a superstar in college, winning a national title and Heisman Trophy at Alabama. However, his smaller stature as a 5-foot-10 frame and lack of star talent around him have made it impossible for him to find sustained success at the NFL level.
The Panthers Should Bench Bryce Young
Ownership may not like it, but it's time for the Panthers to sit Young and make something out of the 2024 season.
The Panthers only have one other quarterback on their 53-man roster, but veteran journeyman Andy Dalton has filled in admirably in four appearances for the Panthers. He's completed 34-of-59 passes for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Benching Young can allow the Panthers to take a step back and evaluate the rest of their roster without being hamstrung by poor quarterback play. It could also give Young a chance to take a step back and regain his confidence if Carolina is adamant about him being the long-term franchise quarterback.
If things continue to go poorly with Young on the bench, it could also put the Panthers in a position to draft a new quarterback with a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Names include the likes of Carson Beck and Quinn Ewers as players likely to go pro.
Regardless, the Panthers need a long-term plan now that they have their own first-round pick in 2025. The blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears that helped the Panthers acquire the No. 1 pick to take Young needs to be viewed as a sunk cost.
Ownership might want to stick with Young and use that top pick to surround him with more talent. Either way, the best course of action right now is to bench the young quarterback and evaluate the rest of the roster.
