NFL Analysis
9/17/24
4 min read
3 Trade Destinations for Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young
The Bryce Young era in Carolina might be over.
Ahead of Week 3, Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters that Young was being benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. The move comes after an 0-2 start that makes Young 2-16 as an NFL starting quarterback with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
The trade by the Panthers to acquire the No. 1 overall pick and draft Young might go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history. Benching Young suggests this could already be the end of his time in Carolina, but the Panthers could try to recoup some of their losses by offering the 23-year-old quarterback to another team in a trade.
Here are a few teams that might be giving Carolina a call.
Young Potential Trade Candidates
Miami Dolphins
Potential Trade Compensation: 2025 fourth-round pick, WR Grant DuBose
If there's any team where Young could be a starter again in 2024, it's the Miami Dolphins.
It's unclear when the Dolphins will get Tua Tagovailoa back after he suffered another concussion last Thursday against the Buffalo Bills. Although he has no plans to retire after his latest concussion, the Dolphins could want to be patient before rolling him back out onto the field.
Skylar Thompson is set to be the starting quarterback, but he has struggled to take care of the football in previous stints under center. A new offense with a legitimate supporting cast of players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle could help Young regain his confidence while coach Mike McDaniel schemes a functional gameplan around the former No. 1 pick.
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky gave his take on why the Dolphins could be a logical trade destination for Young.
🎥 Dan Orlovsky believes the Miami Dolphins are the best landing spot for QB Bryce Young: “Someone will have to come and trade for Bryce Young… [Dolphins] make a lot of sense. No one else in my mind makes sense for him.” (@ESPNNFL) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/m3BYIqHp1T
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 17, 2024
It's the most likely place where Young could play this season, but also the best situation for him to turn his career around.
Los Angeles Rams
Potential Trade Compensation: 2025 sixth-round pick, OG Logan Bruss
Things are spiraling quickly for the Los Angeles Rams this season, and it might be time for general manager Les Snead to think about the future.
Injuries to key players, including Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Joe Noteboom, Steve Avila, and Tyler Higbee, have completely decimated the Rams' offense. Matthew Stafford can only do so much with a decimated offense, and he might not play much longer at 36 years old.
The Rams don't have a succession plan in place for Stafford. Jimmy Garoppolo is an aging veteran and Stetson Bennett is an unproven and undersized prospect. Young could be brought in for a Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick to let him learn behind Stafford until he eventually decides to hang up his cleats.
Young throwing to the likes of Kupp and Nacua down the road could still give the Rams an exciting offense to watch in the coming years.
Las Vegas Raiders
Potential Trade Compensation: 2025 third-round pick
Is Gardner Minshew really the long-term answer for the Las Vegas Raiders?
Minshew has had a respectable career as a stopgap quarterback for a handful of franchises. He's even off to a solid start for the Raiders, completing more than 77 percent of his passes for 533 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
However, the upside on Minshew just isn't there compared to the league's top quarterbacks. Indianapolis Colts fans still have a sour taste in their mouths after Minshew struggled to get the offense going in a 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 18 of last season, which cost them a chance at the playoffs. He completed just 13-of-24 passes in that game while averaging 5.9 yards per pass attempt.
Locker rooms will love Minshew for his competitiveness and personality, but he's not a long-term answer. The Raiders couldn't get a top quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft but could try to swing on a former top prospect by trading for Young to see if he can establish a connection with Davante Adams and Brock Bowers.
