On Monday, following a 2-16 record through his first 18 starts in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers announced that they would be benching Bryce Young. Instead, head coach Dave Canales announced that veteran QB Andy Dalton would be the team’s starting quarterback.
Canales wasn’t ready to give up on Bryce Young, insisting that he still believes in the former Alabama quarterback. However, Monday’s decision was the best decision for the team going forward. It’s unclear if the organization has a timeframe in mind as to how long Andy Dalton will remain the starter.
Since he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young has struggled to play consistent football. Last year, Young finished the season with a 59.8 completion percentage. Further, his 11 touchdowns, along with 10 interceptions, further highlighted his struggles.
Bryce Young hasn’t been the only top quarterback to be benched by the team that drafted him. Alex Smith, Eli Manning, and Jameis Winston are also in that club. Baker Mayfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, but was traded away in the 2022 offseason to Carolina. He’s now found a new home in Tampa Bay where he is thriving. Alex Smith found a new home with the Kansas City Chiefs following his benching in San Francisco.
It’s more likely that we see Andy Dalton run this offense for the foreseeable future. However, if the Panthers fall out of contention in the NFC South, then perhaps the organization turns back to Bryce Young. For Young’s sake, this is an opportunity to take a break and perhaps learn from Dalton. Head coach Dave Canales has been referred to as a quarterback whisperer. The Carolina Panthers, who have struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position, should use this time to their advantage.