NFL trade rumors surrounding former SEC starting quarterback

Bryce Young has had a difficult start to his NFL career after being drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2022. The former two-year starting quarterback of the Alabama Crimson Tide started from game one for the Panthers in 2023, throwing for 2,877 yards with only 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions on the season.

The Panthers and many in the NFL however passed it off to a failed head coach in Frank Reich and the fact that Young was a rookie starting quarterback. Fast forward to 2024 however and through the first two games it did not look like much had changed.

Bryce Young has struggled as a starting quarterback in the NFL

Through two games, Youngs completion percentage was actually down from 59.8% in 2023 to 55.4% in 2024. Additionally, Young has only thrown for 245 yards in two games to go along with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. These are numbers that are far from the production required to be a starting quarterback in the NFL- let alone a number one overall draft pick.

While the lack of production has some touting a Ryan Leaf type of bust potential, the counter could also be true. The Panthers hardly have any weapons around Bryce Young with a makeshift offensive line, an aging number one wide receiver in Adam Thielen and a struggling defense putting more pressure on the quarterback.

Andy Dalton is doing much better than Bryce Young with the same weapons

With the veteran Andy Dalton starting this past game in week three against the Las Vegas Raiders and thriving, the narrative of most Young supporters left relying on the “its everyone else’s fault” logic is quickly dispersing. Dalton threw for 319 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions against the Raiders. So now, the narrative has become, if Dalton can do it, why cannot Young.

Being that it is Dalton’s 14th season in the NFL, I think it is fair to consider Young could develop into something great if he truly was surrounded by better talent and had time to sit and learn. The situation players are thrust into when being drafted can go a long way. And unfortunately for Young, say what you want to say but the Panthers have been one of the worst teams in the NFL before he even arrived.

With 14 years of experience, it is no wonder that Dalton had an easier time navigating the waters against the Raiders than maybe Young would have. Regardless of your side on the matter, the situation is what it is and has now shifted to heavy trade talks surrounding Young.

Which NFL teams would be good landing spots for Bryce Young if he was traded?

The Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants are all teams that have been talked about as options to trade for Bryce Young. Rumor in many circles is that the return on Young would be a day three NFL Draft pick, similar to when the San Francisco 49ers traded away former first round draft pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys.

While the Dolphins and Giants could see Young inserted more immediately, the Rams could be the best option for Young here as they have a proven starting quarterback in Matt Stafford at the controls. Young would be able to sit and learn behind Stafford for at least one year presumably, and then we would be able to see if he would sink or swim