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NFL | Sep 23

Dave Canales Was Right About Bryce Young: Is He the Biggest Bust to Go No. 1?

Andy Dalton Proves Bryce Young Was the Problem: Worst First Draft Pick in NFL History?

Dave Canales Was Right: Is Bryce Young the Biggest Draft Bust?
Andy Dalton #14 and Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers/Grant Halverson/Getty Images/AFP

Canales’ Prediction Comes True

Dalton showed Sunday that the biggest problem in Carolina was Young’s shortcomings…

Last Monday, the Carolina Panthers made shocking NFL news when head coach Dave Canales announced the team was benching quarterback Bryce Young. He’s only made 18 starts, so it’s an unprecedented move for a No. 1 pick. Also, replacing him with a journeyman like Andy Dalton sounds even crazier.

But Canales was clearly thinking about his job security after the team was outscored 73-13 in two games. Remember, the Panthers fired veteran coach Frank Reich after a 1-10 start last season.

But it looks like Canales, who helped Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield to career years in 2022-23, might know what he’s doing after all. Dalton started against the Raiders in Week 3, and despite being a 6.5-point road underdog, the Panthers won 36-22 with Dalton shredding a defense led by Maxx Crosby.

In fact, the Red Rifle became the only quarterback this season to throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in a game. Andy Dalton’s stats were 26-of-37 passing for 319 yards. He only took two sacks and had no turnovers.

Basically, Dalton was better on Sunday than every start of Young’s career, and it’s not like the Panthers magically found a new line, running back, or receivers in Week 3.

Dalton just unlocked the talent already there, including Diontae Johnson (career-high 122 yards), and Chuba Hubbard (114 rushing yards), he threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen, and he found rookie wideout Xavier Legette on a 35-yard play.

It begs the question, is Young the worst quarterback ever drafted No. 1?

 

Young’s Poor Resume

Young has been historically bad in 18 NFL games. His passing yards per attempt (5.4) is the lowest in NFL history for anyone with at least 575 attempts. Young (1.9%) and Kenny Pickett (1.8%) are the only quarterbacks with a touchdown pass percentage under 2.0%.

Young’s 8.9 QBR is the worst in the NFL in 2024. Dalton, who had an 86.9 QBR on Sunday, led the Panthers to 36 points in Vegas after Bryce Young led them to 13 points over his last four starts, tied for the worst 4-game span since 1978.

Dalton also snapped the team’s embarrassing 20-game streak of not playing with a lead for a single snap in the fourth quarter. Carolina’s last three wins all came on a field goal on the final play.

In his last game before he was benched, Young completed 18 passes for 84 yards, the only game in NFL history where a quarterback had at least 18 completions and failed to throw for 100 yards.

Young’s Saving Grace vs. JaMarcus Russell

The all-time bust at quarterback is likely JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 pick by the 2007 Raiders. NFL rumors have it that Russell was once given a blank DVD by his quarterback coach to study plays, then lied that he watched it.

Young may actually be a worse player, but at least his contract is more team-friendly in this era. However, the Panthers traded a king’s ransom to move up to No. 1 to take him over C.J. Stroud, who has been far better.

The only good news? Young’s Carolina book isn’t finished. He can still have another chapter or more. But Dalton showed Sunday that the biggest problem in Carolina was Young’s shortcomings.

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