The Carolina Panthers have seen enough of Bryce Young, for now at least. Dave Canales opted to bench the second-year quarterback despite reaffirming his confidence in the player following another pathetic loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. The head coach said this was his call, but others needed to approve.
General manager Dan Morgan - who was around when Young was drafted No. 1 overall - and Brandt Tilis were part of the process. Canales didn't comment on whether team owner David Tepper got involved, but the chances are he would have had a say in the matter based on his meddling over previous years.
This is the biggest blow to Young's career prospects so far. Taking him out of the firing line and giving him some time to breathe could work wonders in the long term. But with the trust element broken after reports surfaced about the signal-caller being shocked by the decision, the Panthers could decide to cash out on a substantial investment that shows no signs of reaping rewards.
With this in mind, here are five potential landing spots if the Panthers decide to remove Young from the equation in 2024.
Potential landing spots for Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers could trade Bryce Young to the 49ers
How ironic would it be if the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft ended up backing up Mr. Irrelevant from 2022?
Bryce Young needs help from somewhere. The Carolina Panthers are not providing it effectively enough. Their benching of the signal-caller after just two games indicates that they aren't happy and the quarterback is holding them back. That breaks trust, so a parting of the ways is inevitable.
The San Francisco 49ers would be a sensational landing spot for Young. It wouldn't give him the chance to start, but learning from someone like Kyle Shanahan and building up confidence within a scheme well suited to his strengths is something the Heisman Trophy winner should be clamoring for.
Brock Purdy is the No. 1, but he's also due for a lucrative contract extension after this season. The Niners have some difficult decisions upcoming with some established stars, so having a strong contingency plan at the quarterback position solves one complication if nothing else.
The Niners are about to hitch their wagon to Purdy long-term. But if Young can rectify his flaws and restore self-belief, his trade value increases at the very least.
Carolina Panthers could trade Bryce Young to the Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders were reportedly looking to jump the 2024 NFL Draft queue for a college quarterback in 2024. Jayden Daniels was high on their list of candidates, but it became clear from a long way out that the Heisman Trophy winner was heading to the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall. After much deliberation, they opted to move forward with Gardner Minshew.
Minshew is a solid competitor, but he's not a franchise-caliber presence under center. Bryce Young might not be either considering his torrid start with the Carolina Panthers. That said, taking a swing at his potential within the vibrant atmosphere Antonio Pierce is developing in Las Vegas could be a decent landing spot all things considered.
Nobody should be expecting Young to come in and immediately hit the ground running. Sitting and learning, especially with the likes of wide receiver Davante Adams and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello lending helpful advice, could get him on the right path quickly.
The Raiders probably have their sights set on the college crop in 2025 for a long-term solution. But if they can get Young for a mid-round pick, it potentially solves the issue and allows them to strengthen another position group with their first-round selection.
Carolina Panthers could trade Bryce Young to the Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are sitting at 0-2 with nowhere to go but up. Their opening-day loss to the Detroit Lions in overtime was excusable. That wasn't the case in Week 2 after they were trounced by the resurgent Arizona Cardinals.
This is a precarious situation for the Rams. It doesn't seem feasible that Matthew Stafford will be moved or sent to the sidelines right now. However, with only Stenson Bennett IV and the suspended Jimmy Garoppolo behind him, someone like Bryce Young might be of interest if the price is right.
Young has gone from the No. 1 overall selection to a potential project in a short space of time. There wouldn't be many better head coaches to steer him on the right path than Sean McVay - a man with Super Bowl-winning credentials and an elite offensive mind from the Mike Shanahan tree.
The Rams have always been willing to take chances with players down on their luck to see if their improved environment can help them return to the form of old. With the wide receiver duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua missing extended time in the coming weeks, the NFC West team must start planning with the future in mind.
Carolina Panthers could trade Bryce Young to the Dolphins
The Carolina Panthers haven't helped Bryce Young much. He's not without blame given how the same fundamental flaws continue to blight his on-field production. A fresh set of ideas and coaching methods could be exactly what he needs. This puts the Miami Dolphins squarely under the microscope.
Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with yet another concussion. This is deeply concerning and came with questions about whether or not he should walk away from the game to preserve his long-term health. Mike McDaniel is taking things week-to-week, but signing Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad means it might be a few weeks before the former Alabama star returns to the fold.
Whether Tagovailoa returns in 2024 or not, the Dolphins need a better contingency plan in place. Young's got a previous connection to Jaylen Waddle and looks well-suited to McDaniel's offensive scheme if the head coach can do what nobody in the Panthers seems able to. That centers on building up his confidence and getting the feet aligned with the upper body to provide a strong throwing base.
If Young ended up in Miami, he should be jumping for joy. Considering the money they've got tied up in Tagovailoa, the Dolphins will give him every chance to prove his health before taking any drastic measures.
Carolina Panthers could trade Bryce Young to the Giants
It's no secret that the New York Giants were in the market for a quarterback this offseason. Their Hard Knocks documentary proved positive of that, which is unlikely to happen again if teams around the league had any sense.
Daniel Jones hasn't lived up to the whopping contract handed to him by the Giants. Something that diminished their chances of keeping star running back Saquon Barkley around. He's made a poor start to the 2024 campaign as the G-Men sit at 0-2 following their last-gasp loss at the Washington Commanders. The pressure is building in no uncertain terms.
With the job statuses of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen coming under increasing scrutiny, could they push all their chips into the middle for someone like Bryce Young in the hope he could thrive in a different environment?
It seems unlikely, especially considering the Giants' offensive line isn't exactly stellar aside from stud left tackle Andrew Thomas. New York will probably ride things out with Jones for good or bad. If their freefall continues, they'll be in a good position to draft the college quarterback of their choosing in 2025.