To put it mildly, Bryce Young had a really tough go of things in his rookie season. Thrown into a challenging situation with the 2023 Carolina Panthers, Young has faced an uphill fight since he stepped foot into the building.
But there is some hope for the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, especially with a new head coach leading the Panthers. A revamped receiver group will also help, but Young must take a huge step forward in his sophomore season in the NFL.
2023 Year in Review
Finishing as the QB23 in the point-per-reception (PPR) format, Young only threw one more touchdown than interception in 2023 (11:10). Having been sacked on just under 12 percent of his dropbacks, Young has his porous offensive line to blame, too.
The Panthers won’t win any awards for being a well-run NFL franchise, especially with how they treated Frank Reich. Having canned Reich only 11 games into his first season, it’s clear things in Charlotte will take a while.
There were some bright spots among the doom and gloom for Young, as he started all but one game last year. A dreadful offensive line (that allowed Young to be sacked 62 times) wasn’t a big enough hurdle to keep Young off the field, as Young enjoyed a few solid moments in his rookie season (a three-TD game against the Lions and a 312-yard day against the Packers stand out).
In his rookie season, Young finished with 2,877 passing yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs, a 59.8 completion percentage, 253 rushing yards, 62 sacks, and 11 fumbles (six lost). While there have been worse rookie campaigns, Young is looking to put 2023 behind him and move forward.
2024 Outlook
Young’s stock has an optimistic undertone simply because of the addition of Dave Canales as Carolina’s next head coach. Having turned Baker Mayfield back into a long-term starter in Tampa Bay, Canales’ next project is helping Young get back into playing football, which is catered to his skills.
In hindsight, C.J. Stroud should have been the pick instead of Young, but Young was no slouch in college. The 80 TDs, over 8,300 career collegiate passing yards, and 12 INTs help justify Young’s selection as the top pick.
While things are looking up for Young and the Panthers in 2024, the reality is that this season is a stepping stone. Expecting a 4,000-yard, 30-TD season out of Young isn’t realistic, so expectations will need to be tempered a bit.
Having rookie Xavier Legette and veterans Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen at receiver gives Young a fighting chance. While the run game (Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathon Brooks) is a big question mark, Young’s weapons were finally upgraded.
Current Dynasty Trade Value
Young, at only 22, has plenty of time to figure things out. The talent is there; it remains to be seen if he consistently showcases that with the Panthers.
It is a good time to acquire Bryce Young in your dynasty leagues. pic.twitter.com/CAfZrA1QHI
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) June 1, 2024
On one hand, Young has disappointed early on and could be seen as a roster clogger for some competitive teams. On the other hand, adding an offensive-minded coach and WR help could give him a new lease of life.
If you want to acquire Young, it likely wouldn’t take more than a future second-round pick (or equivalent). Having gone in the mid-to-late first round of Superflex drafts and the second round of 1QB drafts, Young’s value is probably the lowest it will be this offseason.
On the flip side, as a roster that currently has Young on it, holding him may be your best bet. Offseason hype does wonders for player values, and if he looks solid in camp, you could get lucky and find a roster willing to give up a first for him.
Final Thoughts
The general consensus in the dynasty football community seems out on Young, and for good reason. There are only a few fantasy-relevant players in Carolina, putting Young in a tough spot.
Players of his value are a dime a dozen, but only a few have the ceiling that Young does. While Carolina will likely miss the playoffs again, Young is on track to finally take a step forward.
Young’s value hinges on whether Canales can resurrect another QB, something he succeeded in doing with Geno Smith and Mayfield. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on Young, who was last year’s top pick, but tread carefully.
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