Benching Bryce Young was a monumental call from head coach Dave Canales so soon into his tenure. The Carolina Panthers are among the league's bottom feeders despite showing slight signs of life with veteran Andy Dalton under center. That does nothing for their long-term aspirations, so general manager Dan Morgan and others in positions of power must come up with a plan - and quickly - to finally get this franchise trending upward.
The Panthers made a significant investment in Young. What they failed to do was assess their roster effectively and put the correct support system around the signal-caller. He's not without blame, but this environment sapped any confidence he had despite the improved energy in the building when Canales came into the fold.
What the future holds for Young is anyone's guess. The Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama could get another shot and potentially improve with some time out of the firing line. There's also a chance the Panthers cut their losses entirely with trust broken on both sides.
With this in mind, here are seven quarterbacks the Panthers could draft in 2025 to replace Young if that's the path Carolina chooses.
Quarterbacks the Carolina Panthers could draft to replace Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers could draft Garrett Nussmeier
This is not a particularly strong quarterback class. There will be one or two who emerge into productive starters, but there are uncertainties around almost everyone. There is no C.J. Stroud, Caleb Williams, or Jayden Daniels in this year's crop of college hopefuls. That's why the evaluation and pre-draft interview stages are more important than ever.
Garrett Nussmeier has the unenviable task of replacing Daniels following his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign at LSU. That's a daunting challenge for almost anybody, but the young signal-caller is performing well. He's got a cannon for an arm and seems to thrive in the big moments, which is a solid foundation from which to build.
Nussmeier's completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,652 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just four interceptions this season. He's got the rapid release and next-level velocity normally associated with LSU quarterbacks. He's also got rich NFL bloodlines with his father Doug Nussmeier plying his trade in the league. He is currently the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach.
If Nussmeier can improve his decision-making with more experience and add a little extra mass to his frame, he quickly becomes a prospect of interest.
Carolina Panthers could draft Cam Ward
Cam Ward's meteoric rise to prominence this season has seen the dual-threat quarterback soar up draft boards around the media. The Miami Hurricanes are quietly entering playoff contention thanks in no small part to his exceptional presence under center. It's been quite the journey, which could eventually see the player become a first-round selection when it's all said and done.
Ward is not the finished product by any stretch of the imagination. He's raw from a mechanical standpoint and suffers from timing issues on occasion. However, the ceiling is through the roof if he continues his rapid development upon arriving in the pros.
The prospect is never happier than when improvising and going off-script. Ward has elite-level vision and elusiveness. He's also got that rare ability to turn a negative play into a big gain. He leads by example and possesses the poise normally associated with NFL-caliber quarterbacks.
Protecting the football and getting acclimatized to pro-style concepts will be the big challenge. The Carolina Panthers would need to add a capable veteran to fill the void early on if they drafted Ward. But the athletic intangibles suggest quick progress under Dave Canales' guidance.
Carolina Panthers could draft Quinn Ewers
It doesn't seem that long ago when social media videos surfaced of a high school phenom with an NFL-ready sidearm throw and throwback mullet. That man was Quinn Ewers, who's now in his senior season at Texas and looks set to take his chances at the next level in 2025.
Ewers has been destined for the NFL from an early age. His college career hasn't quite reached spectacular levels. However, teams should always draft prospects on what they could become, not what they have achieved before.
The release Ewers has at his disposal is astonishing. His poise in the pocket is improving, as is the player's ability to keep his eyes downfield and go through his progressions in the face of extreme pressure. Even after losing some standout pass-catchers to the NFL earlier this year, the signal-caller hasn't skipped a beat despite missing some time through injury.
Couple this with having a flair for the big occasion, and it's not hard to see why Ewers could be a hot commodity when the pre-draft cycle commences. If the Panthers are convinced they can fix his mechanical flaws and get him to rely less on his arm talent, he could be on the shortlist.
Carolina Panthers could draft Jalen Milroe
The last time the Carolina Panthers had any legitimate success, they had Cam Newton under center. He was an electrifying dual-threat weapon with an imposing physical stature that became a nightmare for opposing defenses to scheme against. Injuries began taking their toll and he was quickly overlooked when his talents waned, but the 2015 NFL MVP's place in league history is secure.
Asking anyone from this class to reach the heights Newton accomplished at the peak of his powers is pushing things. However, Jalen Milroe is the sort of signal-caller who could potentially become a force with a similar playing style.
The four-star high school recruit out of Texas boasts a phenomenal deep ball. Milroe is rawer than sushi, but he's demonstrating encouraging progress while also being prone to mistakes when the first read isn't there. His creativity off-script is outstanding, matched by an imposing running style that makes him a difficult proposition to bring down once momentum is generated.
This would be a development pick for the Carolina Panthers. Milroe doesn't look like a Day 1 starter despite his experience in a pro-style offense. His footwork needs significant work, as does the player's processing and throwing release before confidence about his chances increases.
Carolina Panthers could draft Carson Beck
One could make a strong case for Carson Beck being the best quarterback prospect in this class. He was projected by many to be the No. 1 overall selection before the campaign. However, his production with the Georgia Bulldogs hasn't cemented his status atop the draft as yet.
Beck has the ideal size and frame for an NFL quarterback. He processes the field well and shows a nice touch on his throws. The prospect's performance levels have dipped somewhat from the 2023 season, which is a slight concern despite the obvious tools he brings to the table.
The signal-caller has outstanding timing and pre-snap recognition of defensive alignments. Beck doesn't have the biggest arm, but it's sufficient enough. He's also considered more of a pocket passer rather than someone who can make things happen off-script.
Finishing the season strongly is crucial for Beck. But with legitimate quarterbacks few and far between in this class, unless someone makes a meteoric leap, he looks like a lock to be one of the first prospects taken. Whether he ends up in Carolina or not with so many holes elsewhere is another matter.
Carolina Panthers could draft Shedeur Sanders
Sheduer Sanders could be the most talked about prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class. His Colorado teammate Travis Hunter - the mercurial two-way phenom built to be an elite wide receiver or cornerback at the next level - will run him close. But father and head coach Deion Sanders tips the scales in the quarterback's favor.
Sanders has got all the tools normally associated with productive NFL players under center. He's highly intelligent, boasts outstanding arm strength, and is generally accurate at all three levels of the field. This would also bring a sense of star power and national attention to the Carolina Panthers - something team owner David Tepper desperately craves.
Much has been made about whether Deion Sanders is going to make things difficult before the draft. He wants his son to go somewhere with stability and a bright future. While these are threats right now, there's just no telling what he'll end up doing if the Panthers hone in on the promising signal-caller.
If those in power do end up choosing a quarterback, convincing the Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback might be the most challenging element of all. Not since Eli Manning has something like this happened, but this should be a prospect the Panthers take a close look at nonetheless.
Carolina Panthers could draft Drew Allar
If the Panthers opt to strengthen other areas with their first-round pick - which seems like the most sensible option looking at the roster as it stands - then addressing the quarterback position a little later in the draft might be something general manager Dan Morgan contemplates.
Drew Allar might come into the equation in this scenario. He's got enough size and poise to be an intriguing development prospect. He's an accurate passer who makes smart decisions on the whole. He gets the football out quickly and has enough arm strength to make NFL-caliber throws at all three levels with minimal fuss.
Some elements of his game need coaching before he gets thrown into the proverbial fire. Allar's footwork can be his undoing, especially under pressure. Learning how to recognize pre-snap alignments and make the necessary adjustments when needed would be another big step in the right direction.
Allar is a feast or famine prospect, but the potential is there. He'll need to land in the right fit within an environment that can nurture his talent effectively. The Panthers could be that spot if their culture shift continues with Morgan and head coach Dave Canales leading the charge.