On Monday, the Carolina Panthers announced the organization is benching former No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young. Andy Dalton, the long-time veteran, will take the reins as the starter for the near future. This decision comes after the Panthers started the year 0-2, and Young has struggled immensely. In week one against the Saints, the Panthers were annihilated 47-10 at home. Young, the second-year QB, went 13-30 and threw for 161 yards with two interceptions. Both interceptions were due to poor decision-making and were not up to the standards of an NFL-level quarterback. After the game, head coach Dave Canales and veteran players on the team, like wide receiver Adam Thielen, threw their support behind Young. In week two, Young and the Panthers hosted the Chargers, and his struggles worsened.
While Young completed 18 of his 26 passes, he only threw for 84 yards and had an interception. The only bright spot was that his offensive line played better, allowing only two sacks— half of what they allowed last week. The Chargers won the game 26-3, and questions had to be answered on the Panthers’ side.
In alignment with what he said after week one’s debacle, Canales said, “Bryce Young is our quarterback.” A day later, after watching the film and meeting with trusted advisors, Canales pulled the switch on Young. Immediately after the decision was announced to the public, social media went ablaze. NFL fans and reports alike were quick to look back at the trade that landed Young in Carolina. In 2023, the Panthers traded for the first-overall pick, which they used to select Young, in exchange for star wide receiver D.J. Moore for the 2023 first and second-round picks and a 2024 first-round pick. The picks turned into Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson and Caleb Williams. Wright has turned into a solid offensive tackle; Stevenson is an up-and-coming corner and Williams is arguably the best quarterback prospect of all-time. Moore had a career-high in all three major categories in his first season with the Bears with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. Moore is a true WR1 for most teams in the NFL, so his departure was unfortunate for Young.
Without Moore, Young was horrible in his rookie season. Young threw for only 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he was intercepted 10 times and sacked 68 times. After just one season, the trade was a disaster for Carolina. In addition, the second overall pick in the class, C.J. Stroud, quickly became one of the best QBs in the league. Stroud threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The emergence of Stroud as one of the league’s best and the miserable start to Young’s career led many to believe the trade to acquire Young was among the worst ever.
There have been many historically bad trades in NFL history, so let’s look at a few. In 2020, the Houston Texans acquired David Johnson and a second-round pick for DeAndre Hopkins and fourth round pick. Johnson struggled mightily for two seasons in Houston before retiring, while Hopkins was a star in Arizona before joining the Titans. This trade cost then-head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien his job. In 2007, the Raiders stranded Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick. Moss, one of the greatest wide receivers ever, set the individual touchdown record in 2007 and was named a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018. Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos for four picks in the first and second rounds. Wilson only spent two seasons in Denver, failing to reach the playoffs in both. He signed a league-minimum deal with the Steelers in the offseason and has yet to start a game due to injury.
Where does the Bryce Young trade fall in comparison to these trades?
The truth is, it is still too early to tell. Young just started his second year and may end up being worthy of the pick after all. For now, this trade is on pace to go down as the worst in NFL history if Young and the Panthers fail to turn the ship around.