Many might wonder if the Carolina Panthers regret trading up to draft Bryce Young 1st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. With a 24-42 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Panthers start their season 0-5. If Carolina didn’t trade for him, they would have the 1st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a great collegiate career with Alabama
Young played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and served as the backup to Mac Jones in his freshman season. After the 2020 season, Mac Jones declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. Young replaced Jones as the starting QB.
He led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in 2022. He threw for 4,872 yards with a 66.9% completion percentage, 8.9 yards per attempt, 47 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He would be the first Alabama QB to win the Heisman trophy.
Young injured his shoulder in Week 5 against Arkansas, causing him to miss Week 6 against Texas A&M. In 12 games, he threw for 3,328 yards with a 64.5% completion percentage, 8.8 yards per attempt, 32 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. Alabama lost two games that season and would miss the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.
Young’s path to the draft and the infamous trade
Young declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and opted not to throw at the combine. Many people were interested in Young’s measurement. Young measured in at 5’10 and 1/8 and 204 pounds. Many scouts are concerned with Bryce Young’s height and think he’s too small to play quarterback.
On March 10, 2023, the Bears traded the Number 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers. The Panthers gave up wide receiver DJ Moore, their ninth pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and their 2024 first-round pick to the Bears. On draft day, the Panthers selected Bryce Young 1st overall in the 2023 NFL draft, passing on QBs CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson. They also passed on defensive playmakers Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter.
Accessing Young’s rookie season
So far, Young has struggled in his rookie season. In four games as the starting QB, Young is 92/144 with 750 passing yards, 63.9% completion percentage, 5.2 yards per attempt, five passing touchdowns, four interceptions, 12 sacks, and three fumbles.
Carolina’s 0-5 record isn’t entirely his fault. Since they traded their number-one wide receiver, DJ Moore, the Panthers have one of the worst receiving tandems in the NFL. 33-year-old Adam Thielen is currently their number-one receiver.
The Panthers also miss running back Christian McCaffrey. During the 2022 trade deadline, the Panthers traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2023 second, third, and fourth-round pick and a 2024 fifth-round pick.
The Panthers signed pro-bowl running back Miles Sanders to a 4-year-$25.4 million contract during the offseason. Through five games, Sanders is 61 for 190 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Carolina will not have their 1st round pick in the 2024 draft
Due to the Bryce Young trade, Carolina will be without their 1st round pick in this year’s draft. Carolina has so many holes to fill. Carolina needs more production from Miles Sanders, a better offensive line, and a better-receiving core. Expect Carolina to address their receiving core during the trade deadline.
This article is not a knock on Bryce Young. He is still a rookie and doesn’t have a good supporting cast. He is capable of turning things around. Carolina needs to do a better job building players around him.
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