Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was one of the most popular trade candidates in the league at this point last week. Selected with the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Young had a disastrous start to his career, ranking at or near the bottom of every passing metric in football. However, it was hard to separate his shortcomings from the rest of the team as a rookie, as the Alabama product had one of the worst supporting casts out there. Carolina spent big in the offseason and hired a new head coach in Dave Canales, but Young continued to disappoint during the first two weeks.
The Panthers benched Bryce Young for Andy Dalton and reportedly received trade interest for the former first-overall pick. However, that interest could be all but gone after Dalton dominated with a 300-yard, three-touchdown performance. This small sample implies Young was the primary catalyst behind Carolina’s atrocious offense, which could turn some teams off him. However, if Dalton’s performance lowers the price on Bryce Young, then the Miami Dolphins or Baltimore Ravens could make a low-risk, medium-reward move.
Dolphins, Ravens Might Still Trade For Bryce Young Despite Andy Dalton’s Dominance
Injuries affect every NFL team, but few organizations took more blows than the Miami Dolphins. After losing Tua Tagovailoa indefinitely to yet another concussion, Miami placed their faith in former seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson. The longtime backup struggled early before suffering a chest injury that took him out of the game. We don’t yet know the severity of said injury, but the fact he didn’t return to the game is worrisome. With Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle as the last two options on the depth chart, Miami could roll the dice on a Bryce Young trade.
Based on his first 18 games, Young’s floor is just as low as Huntley and Boyle. However, based on his college career, the Alabama product has the raw potential to be a franchise quarterback. Head coach Mike McDaniel is one of the game’s best offensive minds, and a trade into his system could be exactly what Bryce Young needs to realize his potential. It wasn’t too long ago that Tua Tagovailoa looked like a bust, and McDaniel helped turn him into a franchise quarterback. With concussions threatening his NFL future, perhaps history can repeat itself and Miami can find their next answer under center in Bryce Young.
Reliable Backup Work
The Miami Dolphins are the only team that could realistically trade for Bryce Young and make him a starter. The rest of the league probably views him as a high-end backup with a high ceiling. There aren’t enough good quarterbacks to go around, and finding reliable insurance at the QB2 position could be the difference between a Super Bowl and your season falling apart.
Lamar Jackson is one of the game’s best quarterbacks, but the two-time MVP isn’t the picture of health. Jackson missed sizable portions of the season in two of the past three years, and Baltimore doesn’t have a Plan B if injury strikes again. With Tyler Huntley in Miami, the Ravens would be forced to put all their faith in career journeyman Josh Johnson. Bryce Young might not ever live up to his first-overall pick potential, but the trade target should be an upgrade on Johnson. Nobody can replace Lamar Jackson, but Young could keep the offense afloat if the quarterback has to miss a few weeks of action.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
