The Carolina Panthers faced a disappointing setback in Week 10, suffering a 17-7 defeat at home against the New Orleans Saints, a team with a 1-8 record. This loss followed a surprising victory over the Green Bay Packers that had given fans hope for a playoff run. The Panthers” performance raised significant concerns, particularly regarding Bryce Young, the former No. 1 overall pick, whose struggles are becoming more pronounced three years into his NFL career.
The Panthers” offense faltered dramatically, with Young managing only 130 total yards and throwing an interception in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for the Saints. The New Orleans defense effectively neutralized the Panthers” explosive running back Rico Dowdle, forcing Young to take charge of the game. However, he failed to deliver, leading to speculation about his viability as the franchise quarterback.
Young entered the league under challenging circumstances. Although the Panthers finished 2022 with a 7-10 record, they had made significant roster changes, trading away star rookie Christian McCaffrey and top receiver DJ Moore. This left Young with a receiving corps lacking in talent, featuring veteran Adam Thielen and journeyman DJ Chark, while the defense struggled as well.
After a difficult rookie season marked by 10 interceptions and just 11 touchdowns, the Panthers attempted to improve Young”s situation. They hired offensive strategist Dave Canales, known for revitalizing Baker Mayfield”s career, and used high draft picks to acquire talented receivers. Despite these efforts, Young has not shown meaningful progress, having been benched earlier this season in favor of Andy Dalton.
This season, Young has only exceeded 200 passing yards once in nine starts and currently ranks near the bottom of the league with a passer rating of 79.7. Given the investment the Panthers made to select him, it is critical for the franchise to evaluate his performance objectively. As he continues to struggle, the organization may need to confront the reality that Young might not be the long-term solution at quarterback.
