Poor Bryce Young. Things have spiraled downward since he was selected as the No. 1 draft pick in 2023, with expectations to be the “franchise quarterback” for the Carolina Panthers. After finishing his rookie season with a 2-14 record and now facing an even tougher scenario under a new coach, he’s been benched.

The crowd expressed their frustration with Young and the winless Panthers during the home opener against Jim Harbaugh’s squad. Young struggled, achieving only 12 yards on his longest pass and finishing with a dismal 84 passing yards, a new low in his career. Just a day later, at only 23 years old, he lost his starting position.

Interestingly, after a humiliating loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the first-year Panthers head coach, Dave Canales, insisted that Young would still be the starter: “Bryce is our quarterback.”

However, just about 24 hours later, Canales reversed his decision, announcing that veteran Andy Dalton would take over as the starter for the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders. This sudden switch highlights a key lesson: never take a coach’s promise at face value until they’ve reviewed the game film or spoken with the team owner. Canales stated that he based his decision on what he observed on video.

If Young’s performance in two games this season isn’t alarming enough—he stands as the NFL’s lowest-rated passer (44.1) with no touchdowns—it’s reasonable to suspect that Panthers owner David Tepper had a hand in this change. Tepper is likely frustrated with the ongoing struggles of the team, having watched them plummet to a 31-70 record since he took over in 2018, with no winning seasons to speak of.

While Canales claimed that Dalton was appointed because he provides the best chance of winning, it’s hard to see what might change in the near future unless there is an injury. Canales, previously with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was brought in to develop Young, but the situation has already derailed. Despite having insisted on the importance of experience for Young’s growth, Canales now seems to believe that sitting on the bench could be beneficial for the young player. While Patrick Mahomes and Michael Penix Jr. saw success after sitting initially, such instances are rare in today’s NFL, which often expects immediate results from high draft picks. This immense pressure may explain why Young’s time in Carolina could be limited.

Yet, this unexpected turn of events could present Young with a hidden opportunity—a chance for a fresh start away from the struggles in Carolina. After 18 games, perhaps Tepper has realized that Young may not be the solution moving forward. Since becoming a starter, Young has an 11-to-13 touchdown-to-interception ratio (not too bad) but has a mediocre 70.9 passer rating and has been sacked 68 times. He appears to have lost confidence, leading an offense that seems stagnant.

If the Panthers have run out of patience, they should consider trading Young and allowing him to begin anew elsewhere, similar to how the Chicago Bears moved Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. He might thrive better on a team with a stronger supporting cast and lowered expectations, especially considering Carolina’s defense has struggled significantly (ranked 25th in total yards allowed and 31st against the run) over the initial two games.

It’s notable that two former interim quarterbacks for the Panthers, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, have both started this new season 2-0. The Panthers have cycled through formidable passers in the past but felt compelled to keep looking for an ideal solution. This indicates that the issues may run deeper than just the quarterback position.

Still, a good quarterback is essential, and Canales, now 43, played a significant role in Mayfield’s improvement last season with the Buccaneers. This likely prompted Tepper to hire him, hoping for similar success with Young. Before his time in Tampa, Canales contributed to Geno Smith’s resurgence with the Seahawks, who are also off to a 2-0 start this season.

However, it seems unlikely that Canales will magically transform Young’s situation.

Young shouldn’t bear the blame for the current state of affairs. The Panthers traded a lot to draft him—two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and star receiver DJ Moore went to the Bears to secure that No. 1 draft pick. One of those first-round picks became the choice the Bears used to select Caleb Williams, their own “franchise quarterback,” and some have labeled that trade one of the most lopsided deals in NFL history.

Young didn’t orchestrate that trade; that responsibility lay with former GM Scott Fitterer, who was let go earlier this year, along with ex-coach Frank Reich. The pressure on Young to perform to the level of that trade has been immense—an incredibly tall order.

Additionally, Carolina had the option to draft C.J. Stroud with that No. 1 pick instead. Stroud has shone with the Houston Texans, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and helping his team reach the playoffs last season. He, too, is enjoying a 2-0 start this season.

It’s worth noting that it’s not Young’s fault that the Panthers, likely under Tepper’s influence, made a crucial error by passing on Stroud. Young wasn’t responsible for that choice. However, as long as he remains in Carolina while Stroud excels in Houston, the comparisons are inevitable.

Though the Panthers can’t change their draft decision or undo the major trade, if they believe Young is not their future, it’s crucial for Dan Morgan, who was promoted to GM/president of football operations this year, to explore the trade market. Why not seek some valuable draft picks? During the draft process, there were concerns about whether Young’s smaller 5-foot-10 frame could withstand the rigors of the NFL. Nevertheless, with a Heisman Trophy and experience competing in the SEC, it’s clear that he has talent worth reconsidering.

After his time at Alabama, many teams were optimistic about his potential in the NFL.

Go ahead, Panthers. Make those calls. There’s no embarrassment in recognizing the previous leadership’s misstep (which was encouraged, of course, by Tepper) and accepting the loss. Starting anew with a different team means that the burden of the 2023 trade, the label of being a significant draft failure, and the comparisons to Stroud can be left behind, allowing for the opportunity to reset what might still become a long NFL career.

If only the Panthers, who can look to draft a new young quarterback next year, would treat Young fairly by trading him. If this trade doesn’t happen before the NFL’s trade deadline on November 5, it can be included in next offseason’s plans. In any case, everyone involved would benefit from a fresh start.