Despite benching their struggling quarterback Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers still haven’t given up on the 2023’s first overall pick, according to the team’s head coach, Dave Canales.
Young was benched on Monday in favor of veteran Andy Dalton after poor performances in the first two games of the 2024 season that saw him throw for 245 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions. This fueled rumors about the Panthers’ wanting to move on from former Alabama prospect, something Canales denied during a chat with reporters on Wednesday.
“That’s not something we are really considering,” Canales said when asked about trade rumors surrounding Young. “We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now with guys that have experience. We love where we are at, and it’s all hands on deck.”
Canales added that he “absolutely” thinks that Young can still become a long-term solution for the franchise on the QB position.
The Panthers drafted Bryce Young after acquiring the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in a trade with the Chicago Bears that saw them give up a massive haul that included standout wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks, including two first-rounders. The Panthers hoped that they would have a franchise quarterback in Young after spending several years in QB purgatory.
However, the transition to the NFL proved to be quite difficult for Young. He started 18 games as a pro, going 16-2 while completing 59.3% of his passes for 3,122 yards, 11 TDs, and 13 picks.
Panthers’ decision looks even worse considering that QB C. J. Stroud, taken second overall in the same draft as Young, has become a star for the Houston Texans and is already considered one of the top 10 signal-callers in the league.
