Bryce Young could be starting his last game with the Carolina Panthers. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick will start in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but Young is a candidate to be moved before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
Where could the Panthers trade Young? One NFC West contender stands out as a suitor who could help turn the former Heisman winner’s career around.
Rams Should Acquire Panthers QB Bryce Young at NFL Trade Deadline
There’s no arguing that Young has gotten off to one of the worst starts for a young quarterback in NFL history. But if anyone can fix the broken Carolina Panthers signal-caller, it might be Sean McVay.
The Los Angeles Rams will eventually need a successor for Matthew Stafford, who looks as good as ever in 2024 but will turn 37 years old in February. Young hasn’t come close to delivering on his No. 1 overall draft pick billing, but he’d theoretically get more time to process while working behind Stafford in L.A.
Here’s what a potential trade might look like:
- Rams acquire: QB Bryce Young
- Panthers acquire: 2026 fourth-round pick
Young’s affordable rookie deal means the Rams would only be paying him backup quarterback money. Carolina would absorb Young’s prorated bonus earnings as dead money. Los Angeles would have Young under contract through 2026 for roughly $11 million.
Incumbent Rams QB2 Jimmy Garoppolo will be a free agent next offseason. L.A. selected Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he spent his entire rookie campaign on the non-football injury list. It’s unclear if the Rams view Bennett as a long-term backup candidate.
Four unknown teams reportedly reached out regarding Young’s availability after Carolina benched him heading into Week 3.
I Feel Bad For Bryce Young
Was actually impressed with Bryce thru the first half of this game, but you can tell the confidence isn't there. I think you have to trade him at this point.
All 22 QB Breakdown: Bryce Young pic.twitter.com/YPVzj9YqeG
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) October 31, 2024
The Panthers have maintained they won’t trade Young, but teams who want a lottery-ticket quarterback could make attractive offers until the deadline. Carolina is trending toward drafting another QB early in next year’s draft, so they will likely move Young during the offseason if he’s not traded over the next week.
The Panthers had virtually no choice but to bench Young and turn to Dalton heading into Week 3. Young, of course, was dreadful in his rookie campaign with Carolina.
His 33.4 QBR was the second-worst in the league, ahead of only Zach Wilson. Young ranked dead last with just 3.68 adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A), a passing metric highly correlated with winning games.
Since 2000, only three first-round quarterbacks have posted worse Year 1 ANY/A marks. One was Matthew Stafford (2009), but the other two were Josh Rosen (2018) and David Carr (2002).
Young was arguably even worse to begin the 2024 season. In Week 1, the Panthers were destroyed by the New Orleans Saints after Young completed just 13 of 30 attempts for 161 yards and two interceptions while taking four sacks.
In Week 2, he averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. According to TruMedia, Young’s 17.2% passing success rate against the Bolts was the sixth-worst mark for a QB with at least 20 attempts in a game since 2020. He ranked 32nd in EPA per dropback (-0.44) through two starts before first-year head coach Dave Canales benched Young.