Panthers’ Quarterback Carousel Continues: Bryce Young Benched, Andy Dalton Steps In
The Carolina Panthers find themselves in familiar territory, grappling with instability at the quarterback position. Bryce Young, a former No. 1 overall pick, has been benched after just 18 starts, a brief tenure punctuated by struggles and unmet expectations.
Young’s record stands at 2-16 over the last two seasons, with an 0-2 start this year. This season, his statistics offer little solace: completing just 31 of 56 attempts, no touchdowns, three interceptions, and six sacks. The Panthers have now turned to veteran Andy Dalton in hopes of stabilizing their offense.
Veteran quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, both former Panthers, are now thriving with new teams. Mayfield’s time in Carolina was particularly challenging, finishing with a 1-5 record. His tenure with the Panthers also saw his worst completion percentage (57.8) and passing success rate (36). In stark contrast, Mayfield recorded a 29-30 record as a starter with the Cleveland Browns, underscoring the importance of fit and support in a quarterback's success.
Mayfield himself acknowledged these challenges inherent to the quarterback position. “Obviously mine didn't happen in the same time frame with Bryce, but [being a] quarterback's hard, especially for young guys. When you're not surrounded by the pieces, [you're] not given the opportunity to have success. And so a lot of the time guys have the talent, they might have the brains, but they don't have the right opportunity, the right fit,” Mayfield noted.
His words resonate deeply in Carolina, where finding the right combination of talent and support seems elusive. Despite Mayfield’s struggles with the Panthers, he's now performing well elsewhere, which he attributes to a better environment that enhances his skills. “I mean, I'm sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other places I've been. And that's not to put other teams down, but it's a matter of the pieces around you, the coaches and for Bryce, a guy that, I can relate to this, finding that belief within yourself again. And he'll get it. His story is far, far from finished,” Mayfield asserted.
For the Panthers, the last quarterback to finish a season with a winning record as a starter was Cam Newton in 2017. Newton and Jake Delhomme remain the only quarterbacks to achieve a winning season for Carolina since 2008, highlighting the team's prolonged struggle at this pivotal position.
As veteran Andy Dalton steps in, the Panthers hope his experience and leadership can help turn the tide. Yet, the question remains whether the team can provide Dalton with the support necessary to succeed where others have faltered.
This narrative of fits and starts emphasizes the complexity of the quarterback role, particularly for young players like Bryce Young. The road to success in the NFL is rarely linear, and often, external factors play as significant a role as individual talent. For the Panthers, finding a quarterback who can thrive within their system remains the ever-elusive goal. The upcoming games will undoubtedly reveal whether Dalton can bring the stability the Panthers desperately need, or if the search for a consistent and successful quarterback will continue.