The Carolina Panthers' search for a consistent quarterback appears to have taken yet another twist. This time, the focus is on Bryce Young, a former No. 1 overall pick, who was recently benched after just 18 starts. Unfortunately for Young, his tenure as the Panthers’ starter was plagued by a series of poor performances, as he posted a dismal 2-16 record over the last two seasons.
In the early stages of this season, Young completed 31 of 56 attempts without scoring any touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions and suffered six sacks, leading to an 0-2 start. These struggles ultimately proved too challenging to overlook, prompting the Panthers to turn to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in hopes of stabilizing their offense.
The Struggles of Carolina Quarterbacks
Young is not the first quarterback to struggle in Charlotte. A revolving door at the position has seen the likes of Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold pass through, only to find greater success elsewhere. During his tenure with the Panthers, Mayfield recorded a meager 1-5 record and suffered career-worst statistics, including a 57.8% completion rate and just a 36% passing success rate. However, before his stint in Carolina, Mayfield managed a slightly better 29-30 record with the Cleveland Browns.
Mayfield's critique of his time with the Panthers sheds light on the situation. "Obviously mine didn't happen in the same time frame with Bryce, but [being a] quarterback's hard, especially for young guys. When you're not surrounded by the pieces, [you're] not given the opportunity to have success. And so a lot of the time guys have the talent, they might have the brains, but they don't have the right opportunity, the right fit," Mayfield explained.
A Glimmer of Hope from the Past
One must look back to 2017 to find the last Panthers quarterback who finished a season with a winning record—Cam Newton. Newton, along with Jake Delhomme, are the only Carolina quarterbacks since 2008 to achieve a winning record as starters. Their relative success highlights the franchise's persistent struggles in finding and maintaining a reliable presence under center.
Baker Mayfield's Perspective
Intriguingly, despite his own challenges in Carolina, Baker Mayfield is thriving with his current team. Reflecting on his career's trajectory, Mayfield remarked, "I mean, I'm sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other places I've been. And that's not to put other teams down, but it's a matter of the pieces around you, the coaches and for Bryce, a guy that, I can relate to this, finding that belief within yourself again. And he'll get it. His story is far, far from finished."
These comments underscore a critical issue in professional football: success is often situational. Young quarterbacks, in particular, require a supportive environment that includes a strong team and coaching staff to truly develop their potential. The Panthers’ struggles may be as much about the lack of such an environment as about the individual performances of their signal-callers.
As the Panthers move forward with Andy Dalton, the veteran brings his own wealth of experience and potentially a steadier hand to an otherwise turbulent quarterback situation. Nonetheless, the underlying systemic issues that have plagued the Panthers’ quarterback position for years remain unresolved. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Dalton can bring a semblance of stability to a franchise in desperate need.
The story of Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers serves as a poignant reminder that the journey to becoming a successful NFL quarterback is often fraught with challenges that go beyond raw talent. Surrounded by the right pieces and provided the right opportunities, there’s hope for Young’s career to find new life, much like Mayfield's has. For now, however, Carolina’s quarterback conundrum continues.