After a 2-16 begin to his NFL profession, the Carolina Panthers are changing quarterback Bryce Young with Andy Dalton for Sunday's recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
That makes Young the primary quarterback chosen No. 1 total in the widespread draft period (since 1967) to be benched for non-injury causes.
The Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears to accumulate the 2023 No. 1 total decide to draft Young, who's 0-2 this season. His Total QBR this season (8.9) is third worst over a two-game stretch since ESPN started utilizing the metric in 2011.
The Panthers have been outscored 73-13 the primary two weeks, with their solely landing coming on a scramble by Young that originally was dominated a fumble. The 60-point differential is the worst by a group in the primary two video games since 2019.
Carolina's offensive effectivity score (.70) by means of two video games ranks final out of 608 situations for Weeks 1-2 because it was first tracked in 2006, and so they have transformed two of 22 third-down alternatives, worst in the NFL.
The checklist goes on and on, however finally the Panthers imagine Dalton offers them a greater likelihood of profitable after they spent the offseason making upgrades on the talent positions and offensive line to assist Young.
ESPN's Panthers reporter David Newton, Saints reporter Katherine Terrell, NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid, nationwide NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analysts Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder break down what led to the swap and what it means going ahead.
Why wasn't it sustainable to maintain Young at starter?
Receiver Adam Thielen, who bought visibly upset on the sideline Sunday after Young was sacked on a third-down play when Thielen was wide-open, stated after the 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers this “isn't a Bryce Young issue.” He went out of his way to say how much he loved Young and would fight for him. That was the mood of players throughout the locker room.
Coach Dave Canales didn't seem in a hurry to make a change after the game, saying, “Bryce Young is our quarterback” when requested who would begin Sunday in opposition to the Raiders.
So Young hasn't misplaced the locker room. What he has completed is lose two video games by a mixed 60 factors and fail to throw a landing cross, whereas by no means trying comfy working the offense and persevering with to make dangerous selections. And he didn't take command of Canales' quarterback-friendly scheme that helped flip round Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay), Geno Smith (Seattle) and Russell Wilson (Seattle) in the previous.
Canales knew benching Young would ship a unfavorable sign to the locker room. He additionally knew not benching Young would not give the Panthers a practical likelihood of profitable. — Newton
Just how dangerous have the Panthers been to start out the season?
The Panthers have been traditionally dangerous to start out the 2024 season, based on my DVOA ratings. They have the ninth worst total DVOA of 1,397 groups since 1979 by means of Week 2, going again to 1979. The offense is even decrease, rating because the seventh-worst offense of any group by means of Week 2. It's not simply Young who's been terrible, because the Panthers are useless final in cross DVOA and thirty first in rush DVOA, forward of solely this week's opponent, the Raiders.
If we take a look at historical past, the Panthers' season cannot be fully written off but. Mostly written off, certain. But the second-worst offense ever by means of Week 2 belonged to the 1989 Steelers. That group misplaced its first two video games by a mixed rating of 92-10, then rebounded to complete the season 9-7 and make the playoffs. (The worst offense ever by means of Week 2 belonged to the 2002 enlargement Texans, and so they have been horrible all season.)
Another attention-grabbing comparability could be the 2001 Washington group which had the fifth-worst offense ever by means of Week 2. That group benched quarterback Jeff George and went to Tony Banks after two video games, then rebounded to complete the 12 months 8-8. Of course, there is a large distinction between benching a 34-year-old veteran in comparison with benching final 12 months's No. 1 total draft decide.
Other groups among the many worst offenses ever by means of Week 2 embrace the 2019 Dolphins, 2006 Raiders, 2013 Jaguars and 1999 enlargement Browns. — Schatz
What are the choices for Carolina transferring ahead?
The solely choice is clear-cut: Hope for the perfect with Dalton whereas permitting Young to reset behind the scenes for an eventual — if not far-fetched — rebirth.
The one profit of benching Young this early is they might return to him, and this transfer kind of saves him from himself after two ghastly weeks. But most individuals contained in the league who I've spoken to have been not less than mildly shocked by the transfer — particularly as Carolina is taken into account one of the NFL's most talent-deficient groups. People contained in the Panthers constructing are shocked. They knew Young's play would finally get him benched if it did not enhance, however two weeks is a fast hook.
One veteran NFL personnel man had a special take. “They had to bench that guy,” he stated. “The offense was nonfunctional.”
Canales will rely on the expertise and savvy of Dalton, whose 50.9 profession win proportion looms massive right here. It was famous to me a number of occasions this offseason that Dalton did a very good job of pushing Young in follow — at all times talked about after praising Young's development. I did not take that as a sign to place Dalton on my Week 3 bingo card.
“Maybe [Canales] thought he was unfixable,” an AFC government stated. “There isn't a lot of patience and development in our league anymore. You play early and need to produce quickly.” — Fowler
What can we count on from Andy Dalton?
Dalton has a relentless constructive angle and a relaxed demeanor. He by no means will get too excessive or low, and the Panthers desperately want that proper now with a lot going incorrect.
While Dalton is not a full-time starter anymore, he has began 30 video games for 4 completely different groups since he misplaced his beginning job with the Cincinnati Bengals after the 2019 season. He has expertise in primarily each state of affairs, and when the Panthers play in Germany on Nov. 10, Dalton might make his fourth begin in a world recreation.
The Saints introduced him in to again up Jameis Winston in 2022 and appreciated his play sufficient to maintain him because the everlasting starter that season after Winston was injured early on.
Dalton may not be the sort of quarterback who can elevate the play of his teammates on offense. He's normally nearly as good because the supporting solid round him. But Dalton actually will not make issues worse.
It's been a very long time since Dalton's finest seasons in Cincinnati, however there's a cause groups have regularly turned to him as a starter in the previous few years. He is aware of methods to lead a struggling group, and he'll restrict errors to assist them scratch out some wins. — Terrell
Who might Carolina choose at QB in the 2025 draft?
The Panthers arguably have the worst roster in the NFL proper now. Outside of defensive finish Derrick Brown, who's out for the season with a knee damage, there aren't many foundational items to construct on. So what lies forward in 2025?
If the Panthers resolve to maneuver on from Young, they might decide one other signal-caller atop the draft since they personal their first-round decide in 2025. Georgia's Carson Beck is at present the top-ranked passer in the 2025 class, whereas Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Texas' Quinn Ewers are additionally viable choices close to the highest. Miami's Cam Ward is a wild card to maintain an eye fixed on, as his quick begin is already catapulting him up draft boards.
That stated, the 2025 QB crop is not practically as sturdy because it was in 2024, when a file six passers have been drafted throughout the first 12 picks. So perhaps the Panthers resolve to go one other route with their first-round alternative.
If Carolina elects to attend on drafting a QB, its focus might flip to including an offensive or defensive playmaker. Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. or Georgia edge Mykel Williams might all present a direct increase. The Panthers might additionally discover buying and selling again with a group seeking to take one of the highest QBs. That would enable them to accumulate extra 2025 draft capital or future picks to bolster a roster that is at present disadvantaged of high-end younger expertise. — Reid
Do the Panthers have any shot to get again into the NFC South race?
I extremely doubt it. Yes, Young was an enormous drawback. But by means of (virtually) two weeks of the season, this group additionally ranked thirtieth in EPA per play allowed on protection, twenty fourth in cross block win charge and twenty eighth in run block win charge. Those are all areas which have little to do with quarterback play and can probably nonetheless stay points after the quarterback change. Their finest participant on protection, Brown, is on injured reserve and completed for the season.
I believe Carolina is actually upgrading its offense with the quarterback transfer, however the concept of Dalton — who has a 48 QBR because the begin of 2021 — parachuting into this group and turning it right into a division title contender appears far-fetched. After all, the Panthers have a 2.0% likelihood to make the playoffs and a 0.4% likelihood to win the NFC South. — Walder
