NFL evaluators share troubling takes on Panthers' Bryce Young after blowout loss

The Carolina Panthers fell to 1-3 on the season after a 42-13 blowout loss at the New England Patriots (2-2) on Sunday. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young acknowledged after the defeat that he and his teammates "have to look in the mirror" and "have to be better."

However, it sounds like some outside observers think Carolina needs to consider sitting Young for a second straight campaign. 

What NFL evaluators have seen from Bryce Young this season 

For an article published on Tuesday, The Athletic's Jeff Howe spoke with "a coach, an executive and a scout who have studied Young’s performances this season." One of those evaluators mentioned that Young "looked uncomfortable in the pocket, struggled to see the field, lacked anticipation and failed to be consistently accurate" as Carolina dropped three of four September games. 

"I don’t think he’s the guy," a different evaluator said about Young. 

In 2024, Canales was in his first year as head coach when he took a "risk" and benched Young after he played poorly in the Panthers' first two games. Young eventually returned to the lineup after interim starter Andy Dalton was sidelined with a sprained thumb he suffered in a car accident. Young then completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 2,104 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions across 10 consecutive starts. The first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft also rushed for 223 yards and five scores over those outings. 

That said, Young hasn't yet been able to build upon his positive play from last season. According to Pro Football Reference, he ended Week 4 ranked 29th in the NFL among qualified players with a 36.3 adjusted QBR, 29th with a 77.1 passer rating and 27th with a 60.4 percent completion percentage. 

More worrisome Bryce Young stats

"Among qualified passers," Howe added, "Young ranks 30th in (expected points added/dropback), ahead of only Titans rookie Cam Ward, Browns veteran Joe Flacco and Bengals backup Jake Browning."

While Canales isn't benching Young ahead of Week 5 against the 1-3 Miami Dolphins, the coach could at least revisit that decision if the 24-year-old plays poorly. Miami got its first victory of the season against the winless New York Jets on Monday night. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Panthers as 1.5-point home underdogs against the Dolphins.