Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a rough rookie season, and the folks at PFF aren’t convinced he can turn it around. The 2023 first-overall pick struggled as a rookie, completing just 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards (5.5 yards per attempt), 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while guiding the team to a 2-14 record in his 16 starts. While a sizable portion of blame rests at the feet of a poor supporting cast and unstable ownership, PFF doesn’t seem confident in the second-year quarterback.
In a recent article, Trevor Sikkema of PFF ranked Bryce Young as the 25th-best starting quarterback entering the 2024 season. Noting that his rookie season was “as bad as it gets”, the analyst pointed to Young’s underwhelming 52.6 passing grade and abysmal 27.6 passing grade under pressure as areas of concern while also highlighting his “overall athletic deficiencies (size and strength).”
Sikkema gives some reason for hope, noting that Young was “brilliant” at Alabama while acknowledging that Carolina’s supporting cast was “about as bad as it gets” during his rookie season. However, based on the rankings, it appears as though the PFF analyst does not expect Bryce Young to turn it around in Year 2.
Bryce Young Earns Low Spot in PFF Rankings
Based purely on statistics, it’s hard to argue against Bryce Young’s spot in the PFF rankings. The quarterback ranked at or near the bottom of just about every metric out there, and it’s hard for every single statistic to be wrong. While he had a terrible supporting cast, quarterback is the most important part of any offense and passing statistics usually do a decent job of reflecting quarterback talent.
Last year, the bottom seven quarterbacks in EPA per play (highest to lowest) were Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Josh Doubs, Mac Jones, Bryce Young, and Zach Wilson. Of those seven, Young is the only quarterback who hasn’t switched teams. This is not a good omen, but Carolina has done everything in their power to make Young’s life easier in 2024.
Can He Turn It Around?
Adam Thielen was the only worthwhile weapon on the 2023 Carolina Panthers, and nobody could’ve won MVP in that environment. Since the start of the offseason, Carolina heavily invested in the offensive side of the ball, securing the interior offensive line with free agent signees Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis while trading for Diontae Johnson and selecting Xavier Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. While nobody will confuse this group with the 2007 New England Patriots, there are enough pieces here to support Bryce Young and improve his spot in the PFF rankings.
Young’s biggest flaw last year was his inability to handle pressure, and the additions of Hunt and Lewis should go a long way in making the quarterback more comfortable. While this team could still use a center like Connor Williams, the quarterback shouldn’t be under constant duress in 2024. If he still can’t improve in this environment, then the Panthers should consider moving on from the Alabama product despite the heavy draft investment.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
