NFL Insider: ‘Don’t Get the Sense’ Bryce Young Trade Eyed by Panthers After Benching

Doric SamSeptember 18, 2024

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After second-year quarterback Bryce Young was benched by the Carolina Panthers this week, many speculated on whether the 2023 No. 1 pick will be traded at some point soon.

However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday that shipping away Young so early into his career doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

“I don’t get the sense Carolina plans to trade him right now,” Fowler stated. “Benchings rarely result in healthy second chances at that spot, but he now commands the role of developmental quarterback.”

Panthers head coach Dave Canales later told reporters that trading Young is “not something we’re really considering.”

Young was surprisingly benched amid his continued struggles during the Panthers’ 0-2 start to the 2024 season. The 23-year-old has thrown for 245 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while completing just 55.4 percent of his passes.

Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will replace Young under center when the Panthers return to action on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Fowler pointed out that Dalton is not considered a long-term solution, and Young’s benching doesn’t rule out the possibility of him returning to the lineup when he’s ready.

“Dalton is 36. He has been fairly durable but has fought through his share of injuries,” Fowler explained. “In the short term, I expect the Panthers will try to help Young rebuild his confidence in the event Dalton struggles or is injured. Young is No. 2 on the depth chart with no one behind him at this point.”

Fowler went on to add that the Panthers haven’t given up on Young, as he’s shown flashes of being the effective NFL quarterback that he was expected to be when the franchise traded up to select him at the top of the 2023 draft.

“Carolina believes he still has enough talent to be productive in the NFL,” Fowler stated. “And some of the early signs of 2024 were promising, with his ability to make plays off play-action in the spring, picking up the concepts of the offense and showing the maturity to take easy completions when there.”

For now, Young will take some time to continue developing before he’s thrust back into action, and the Panthers are certainly hoping that his time on the sidelines will benefit him in the long run.