The Carolina Panthers made one of the biggest trades of the 2023 NFL offseason by moving up for quarterback Bryce Young. Months later, the franchise’s decision is now having ramifications on their approach to the NFL trade deadline.
Entering NFL games today, the Panthers’ offense ranks 23rd in total yards per game (294.4) and is 25th in scoring (18.2 PPG). Young was viewed as one of the cleanest quarterback prospects to enter the NFL Draft in several years, with his height and the absence of elite athleticism or arm strength being the primary concerns that limited his upside.
- Carolina Panthers offense stats: 18.2 PPG, 294.4 total YPG, 4.4 yards per play (30th in NFL), 40.85% third-down conversion rate (13th in NFL), 2.6 red zone scoring attempts per game (24th in NFL)
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Through five games, Young has been the worst rookie starting quarterback in the NFL this season. The Panthers believe it’s a result of several factors, including a coaching staff giving him too many opinions at once and a supporting cast of talent that hasn’t helped the first-year NFL starter.
Typically, teams that are 0-5 and in need of draft capital would trade veteran players for future picks to hopefully address multiple long-term needs. However, even at the bottom of the NFL standings, that doesn’t seem to be Carolina’s approach this October.
- Bryce Young stats: 0-4 record, 77.0 QB rating, 63.9% completion rate, 5-4 TD-INT, 12 sacks
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Panthers have hinted to teams around the league that they have zero interest in trading away players for draft picks. Instead, Carolina is focused on acquiring starting-caliber wide receivers.
The problem for Carolina is that there are no clear options available. For the time being, the Denver Broncos are keeping wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. After winning in Week 5, the Cincinnati Bengals won’t entertain a Tee Higgins trade, Davante Adams doesn’t want to join a rebuilding team and the Arizona Cardinals aren’t expected to deal Marquise Brown.
It might explain the reported mindset the Panthers’ front office had heading into the weekend. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported that Carolina doesn’t want to trade its top draft assets to find a wide receiver. If the Panthers are going to make any move, it would reportedly take a “phenomenal” offer and that’s not expected.
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As a result, the Panthers find themselves in a very bad position. Carolina’s coaching staff has already realized after five games that this receiving corps won’t get better on its own and that is further dragging down this offense. Trading key players away from the defense could provide Carolina with much-needed draft capital, but that seems to be the last thing the Panthers’ front office wants to do right now. Yet, it also seemingly won’t part with the picks necessary to land an impact receiver.
While the Panthers still might not regret trading up for the No. 1 overall pick, including D.J. Moore and their 2024 first-round pick is already proving far more costly than initially thought. Unfortunately for Young, he will keep experiencing the consequences of it.