Analyst warns Panthers about playing Bryce Young vs. Broncos

Barring an unexpected development, second-year quarterback Bryce Young will return to the starting lineup for this Sunday's game between the 1-6 Carolina Panthers and 4-3 Denver Broncos held in Denver. 

During the latest edition of The Athletic's "Scoop City" podcast, former NFL signal-caller and current analyst Chase Daniel explained why first-year Panthers head coach Dave Canales should reconsider playing Young this weekend. 

"He’s going to hurt his trade value," Daniel said about Young. "[The Panthers are] playing the Broncos. They’re the No. 3 defense in football. They’re No. 1 in pressure rate. Carolina has the second-worst offensive line behind [the New England Patriots]. It’s going to get worse. You have a chance for him to get hurt. I would stash him and trade him in the offseason."

The Athletic's Dianna Russini said during a previous "Scoop City" episode this week that teams were "kinda licking their chops" thinking Carolina could make Young available before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Young was arguably the league's worst starting quarterback of the season's first two weeks before he was benched, but the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft is still a work in progress at the age of 23. Logic suggests multiple clubs would be willing to take a flier on letting him develop as a QB3 through at least next summer. 

Daniel shared his take before ESPN's David Newton noted that Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, Carolina's best wide receivers, will miss the Denver game because of injury setbacks. Both have been mentioned as potential trade targets, as the Panthers remain in the early stages of a needed roster rebuild. 

Newton added that veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who replaced Young in the lineup last month, is a "longshot'' to serve as Carolina's QB2 versus Denver as he works to recover from a sprained thumb he suffered in a Tuesday car accident. That leaves Young and undrafted rookie Jack Plummer as the Panthers' only realistic option to play at Empower Field at Mile High.

The harsh truth is that Young's trade value probably can't get much lower than it is today. Any team that acquires him either this fall or next spring will be getting him for what he may become rather than for what he is, and Canales doesn't have any other choice but to hope Young stays healthy through four quarters of action.