Trust me. I wanted to write a column defending Bryce Young being benched because the team that drafted him is a dumpster fire. And not the good kind of dumpster fire that has an old couch or mattress in it, but that grease dumpster at your local restaurant. Beyond vile. The Panthers overall first pick in 2023 has been lackluster to say the least as the scrawny pipsqueak of a quarterback appeared overwhelmed out there. I spoke briefly last week about the pressure that comes with being a potential franchise quarterback for a franchise that is starved for success; Young entered a situation where the Panthers have been a bottomfeeder of the league since Cam Newton and his fancy hats left in 2020. But then Andy Dalton had to drop 36 on the Raiders this past Sunday, so maybe Young just stinks? Eh, I already started writing this column a few days ago, so might as well finish my thoughts.
While having a successful season with Alabama in college, the hype for Young soared to insane heights in spite of his small stature. We have seen smaller quarterbacks like Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, and Kyler Murray have varying degrees of success at a position that favors big and strong players like Ben Roethlisberger, so it wasn’t totally impossible for Young to have a chance. Long story short, Young had no chance thriving with a franchise that recycled head coaches like cans of cream soda at the cookout. Man, how good are cream sodas? Young had three coaches in the span of just one season as the Panthers owner David Tepper exhibits all the megalomaniacal beliefs of a billionaire wanting to take a sports team for a spin.
Now, I’ll admit that Young’s play recently has been absolutely abysmal and he deserved to be benched for his terrible play–first pick be damned. What I want everyone to understand is that what chance did Young have to succeed in a system that was stacked against him on day one? Months before drafting Young as their quarterback, Tepper decided to trade away the most potent weapon on the entire offense in DJ Moore. As a Bears fan, thanks for that Tepper–you da man. But as someone trying to explain the plight of Young–what are you nuts, Tepper? DId you eat too many hot peppers, Tepper? Did you accidentally get touched by a leper, Tepper? Sorry being a heckler, Tepper.
Trading Moore was the first self-inflicted sabotage the Panthers orchestrated against Young and it didn’t stop there as the next season had star running back Christian McCaffrey traded to the already dominant San Francisco 49ers for a bag of beans. So, Young now has to facilitate a fresh offense without TWO Pro Bowl offensive players because the owner doesn’t want to pay their value? What chance did baby Bryce have in this league when his management made his job difficult to near impossible? Young has some exceptional talents to his game, but it’s a tough mountain to climb when everything around him is constantly changing…for the worst.
And I’m sure someone reading Jay’s Way is saying out loud into their phone, “But Jaaaayyyy…Andy Dalton did everything that Young could not do, so there is no excuse.” Well, you might have some legs to that counterpoint, but Dalton isn’t some scrub coming off the bench; he led the Cincinnati Bengals for eight years and in his 13th season in the league, has proven his ability to be a solid backup to keep the team afloat. He may have a full time job while the Panthers figure out what to do with Young. I don’t want to call Young a bust because sometimes the situation you’re drafted into is beyond even your control…or you might actually just be lousy. It’s too soon to make that call. Give the kid some time to learn what it takes to be a quarterback in this league and it might pay off. Or it doesn’t…another constant of the NFL.
