The Bryce Young trade is already going down as one of the worst in modern NFL history. The Carolina Panthers sent star receiver D.J. Moore, two 1st round picks, and two 2nd round picks to the Chicago Bears for the #1 overall pick in 2023. They used that selected on the Alabama Heisman winner. It was felt they had finally solved their persistent quarterback problems in one stroke. Of course, this didn’t cover up the fact that Carolina had badly neglected the offensive line and the supporting cast for years. Combine that with a coaching staff that didn’t want Young in the first place? Well, you can guess what happened after that.
Young has gone 4-17 as a starter for the Panthers, throwing 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was already benched earlier this season before a car wreck sidelined Andy Dalton, allowing him back into the lineup. Based on a new report from Joseph Person of The Athletic, the arrangement is likely temporary. The new regime likely has plans for a change next off-season.
The best part is who they may target to replace him.
Considering the Panthers gave up the farm for the No. 1 pick in 2023, you’d think they’d want Young to have every opportunity to prove he can be a franchise QB. But Dave Canales wasn’t in Charlotte when the Panthers drafted Young, and there are signs he’s not sold on him. Canales has already benched Young once and came back to him only after Dalton sprained his thumb in a fender bender. When Young led back-to-back wins over New Orleans and the Giants — matching his win total from his rookie season — Canales declined to immediately name him the starter for the following game. So it wouldn’t be surprising if Dalton is behind center again, with Canales and the other decision-makers gauging whether the 37-year-old could be a bridge in 2025. Canales also has ties to Smith and Wilson if either becomes available. The Panthers could draft Cam Ward, who’s starring for GM Dan Morgan’s alma mater, Miami, and bring in someone like Justin Fields as a bridge.
Bryce Young being succeeded by Justin Fields would be pure symmetry.
Remember, the Bears drew a lot of criticism from the media for passing on Young to keep Fields in 2023, trading the pick to Carolina. Then they themselves traded Fields to Pittsburgh for a conditional pick, selecting Caleb Williams #1 overall in April. Fields has since been benched by the Steelers in favor of Russell Wilson. Yet the Panthers still seem to view him as a better option than Young. That is how bad things have gotten for that organization. A quarterback two teams have deemed not to be franchise material is still a better option than the one they gave away the farm to get.
You can’t make this stuff up. As bad as things have been for the Bears, this is a reminder that it could always be worse. One can only imagine the range of emotions Panthers fans are feeling right now. That Bryce Young trade probably set the franchise back a decade.
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As I indicated at that draft, I had nothing against Young, but selecting Stroud over him and others would have been a no-brainer. If Young becomes a top QB and Stroud falters, I will still take the latter. The Texans moving up to take DE Anderson was a very good move, but I would have selected RB Bijan Robinson instead.
This is why I write. People like Erik Lambert write, have opinions and are either stupid or liars. He either doesn’t know, and is making stuff up, or is flat out lying to pump himself up. This is fact: Canales got the Carolina job because of his work last year with Baker Mayfield. Fields went to Pittsburgh by CHOICE to back up, and learn from, and be coached by PROFESSIONAL coordinators, and a consummate professional quarterback, Russell Wilson. Fields wasn’t benched. Wilson was supposed to be the starter, and was injured. Fields started until Wilson was healthy, and the Wilson… Read more »
Just because things could be worse does not mean things shouldn’t be better.
It amazes me how this pathetic writer can even mention Justin Fields name considering every time he mentioned it in the past he showed extreme hatred for Justin Fields.
Hey Lambert, STFU. Your smarmy little comments especially don’t make sense when your shitty article is full of inaccuracies. To name just one example, the Bears did not “take a lot of heat in the media for passing on Bryce Young to stay with Fields.”
Also, as far as Young, he needs to be in a place where he can play the Drew Brees role, he is never going to be Josh Allen. Drew Brees was cheeks for 3 years before having a good year in his 4th season.