Number one pick overall in 2023. A year later, the first to get benched. Bryce Young‘s 2024 season ended before it began. No, not because of the injury, but because the Panthers and HC Dave Canales believed that 36-year-old Andy Dalton could help tidy the ship as the starter. News broke and speculations suggested that maybe the owner, David Tepper, had something to do with it. First Canales kept mum on the rumors, and now this NFL insider has debunked that theory.

Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Albert Breer said, “Don’t think he [Tepper] pushed the button,” as he laid down the possible reasons for benching Young. According to Albert, it was more down to the fact “how Bryce was playing.”

So, how was he playing, you ask? Well, it’s been a rough start. Albert put it bluntly, “He’s not pushing the pigskin downfield, doesn’t see the middle of the field, and his eyes are dropping.” The last one is a big concern. You know things aren’t going smoothly when a QB worries more about getting hit than spotting his receivers. Young’s struggling to see the play develop, which is a real issue, and it’s messing with his footwork.

All of this has led to an under-confident Bryce Young on the field. He’s second-guessing everything. And when your footwork is all over the place, that’s bad news for any QB, especially one without a big arm. Instead of stepping up in the pocket, he’s drifting back and escaping to the left. That’s got nothing to do with his height or size; it’s about not trusting the process. And that’s a recipe for inconsistency, no matter how you slice it.

With the Panthers starting 0-2, the pressure built. Hence why, there was a decision to bench Bryce for veteran Andy Dalton. But just like every other harsh tale, there’s a silver lining to this one too.

Sure, Young’s numbers led him to warm the bench. By now you might know the numerics. If not, then here they are. He completed only 31 of 56 passes for 244 yards this season. But the silver lining? A QB with a serious start to the 2024 season has backed the Panthers’ youngster.

Baker Mayfield knows Bryce Young’s struggles all too well!

One word comes to mind for Bryce Young’s second season, Ouch. It was not meant to be. But here’s the thing—Baker Mayfield knows exactly what that feels like. He’s been there, done that, and now has outlived that phase to stand behind the podium and narrate the tale. Rather, give Young some words of wisdom. And you can bet the young starlet is taking notes of it.

There’s a weird trajectory that follows Mayfield. From the ‘number one potential to neglected, and now Bucs’ star’ it has been a difficult road. So, who better than the 2018’s no.1 overall pick to remind everyone that, “His [Young’s] story is far from over.”

Mayfield’s journey hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. Drafted by the Browns, he eventually lost his spot to Deshaun Watson, followed by a rocky stint with the Panthers. Now, he’s crushing it with the Bucs, on a $115 million deal. Now, if we talk about the 2024 season? So far, he’s racked up 289 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and a 146.4 passer rating, leading the Bucs to a perfect 2-0 start. Mayfield’s bounce-back shows that the right fit can make all the difference, which is why he’s rooting for Bryce.

Sure, Bryce has struggled so far, but Mayfield’s got a point—there has been a lack of elite talent around Young. Losing stars like Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore? That’s tough for any QB. As Mayfield put it, “It’s about the pieces around you, the coaches, the fit.”

Trust the process, if you are from the Panthers Nation. Bryce still has time to find his tuning, and if Mayfield’s journey tells us anything, it’s that redemption is always on the table.

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