The Panthers’ decision to bench Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton seems to have paid off, at least in the short term. Dalton’s impressive performance in his first start, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns, not only revitalized Carolina’s offense but also put the spotlight on the team’s quarterback situation. With Dalton able to extract high-level performances from players like Diontae Johnson and Chuba Hubbard, it raises questions about whether the problem with the offense lies with Young’s execution rather than the team’s offensive structure.
While Dalton’s performance could hurt Young’s trade value by suggesting that the offense’s struggles were due to Young’s play, there’s another side to the argument. Dalton’s success might indicate that the pieces around Young were never the issue, which could entice teams into believing they could help Young rediscover his college form if they build up his confidence. It’s worth noting that this was only one game, and if Dalton regresses in future weeks, public sentiment may quickly shift back to Young.
As of now, there’s no strong indication that the Panthers are actively shopping Young, and Dalton will need to string together consistent performances for this situation to have a lasting effect on Young’s future with the team. However, teams around the league will undoubtedly monitor the situation closely, especially if Dalton continues to thrive while Young remains benched.
