When the Carolina Panthers made the surprising decision to bench Bryce Young, their No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, just under two years into his career, many fans and analysts believed the organization had failed to set him up for success. Young had struggled on the field, but many argued that even the best quarterbacks would falter given the Panthers’ poor roster and lack of support.
The common defense for Young’s lackluster performances was that no quarterback could thrive in such a situation. However, veteran backup Andy Dalton turned that theory on its head on Sunday. Dalton stepped in and threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Panthers to a convincing 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dalton’s performance reignited the debate around Young, with some fans and former players beginning to question whether the young quarterback’s issues were more personal than systemic.
Among those criticizing Young was controversial former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, who didn’t hold back after Dalton’s impressive showing. Brown took to social media to ridicule the Panthers’ decision to stick with Young as their starter for so long.
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“ESPN spent all week talkin’ bout feeling bad for Bryce Young ’cause he didn’t have weapons. Then Andy Dalton comes in and throws 300+ and 3 TDs ??,” Brown tweeted, mocking the narrative that Young’s struggles were due to a lack of offensive talent around him.
Brown didn’t stop there, doubling down on his criticism of Young: “They put in washed Andy Dalton to test the offense and make sure that Bryce Young was really that a–.”
Though Brown’s comments were harsh, he wasn’t the only former player who chimed in. Thomas Davis, a former Panthers legend and team captain, offered a more nuanced take on the situation. While he expressed his belief in Young’s long-term potential, Davis also called for accountability and pointed out that not all of Young’s issues could be blamed on the team.
“I want to start this tweet by saying I love Bryce Young and I still have faith that he’s going to have an outstanding career in the NFL,” Davis wrote on social media. “This message is for all of you that completely threw the entire team under the bus to protect one person. Stop listening to the commentators that don’t watch film!”
Davis’ critique was aimed at those who had put all the blame on the Panthers’ coaching staff and roster, rather than acknowledging Young’s own role in his struggles. He continued: “I’m not saying this team is Super Bowl ready, but for y’all to act like these coaches and other players don’t matter and this team isn’t improved from last year’s team… I just hope that y’all are as loud with the retractions as y’all were with the disrespect.”
Davis also gave credit to Dalton for stepping up and proving that the Panthers were capable of winning games under the right circumstances. “Big shoutout to the old man Andy Dalton for proving what I’m saying and have said,” Davis concluded.
Despite Davis’ more balanced take, the reality is that Dalton’s strong performance has left Bryce Young in a precarious position. Dalton’s success in a single game showed that the Panthers’ offense could be effective, raising questions about whether Young’s struggles were more about him than the situation around him.
While it’s too early to completely write off Young’s career, his future with the Panthers looks uncertain. The team may decide to move on from their young quarterback, giving him a fresh start elsewhere. If that happens, it will likely mark the end of a brief and disappointing chapter for both Young and the Panthers.
The question remains whether Young will get another chance to prove himself, either in Carolina or with a new team.
Regardless, he’ll need to make significant improvements to shake the narrative that has started to form around him, and to avoid becoming another high draft pick that didn’t live up to expectations.
