A year ago, many considered quarterback Bryce Young to be the best prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he was selected No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers, who acquired that pick from the Chicago Bears.
But Young had a brutal rookie season, and some are now wondering if he can still have real success in the pros.
One man who is seemingly in his corner is former star Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who said Young never gave up and continued to persevere all year long, per Joe Person.
“He got up every time, walked off the field, never complained. Now we need everything else to come along (offensively),” Kuechly said.
Luke Kuechly, with Jonathan Stewart and Kay Adams at Panthers-FanDuel event, talked about Bryce Young’s toughness during a trying season.
“He got up every time, walked off the field, never complained. Now we need everything else to come along (offensively).” pic.twitter.com/knkFpOZEi3— Joe Person (@josephperson) March 6, 2024
Young completed just 59.8 percent of his pass attempts and threw for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the Panthers, who went 2-15, which was the worst record in the league.
Perhaps one has to question whether trading for the draft pick they used on him was wise, especially considering they traded the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft to be able to take him.
This year’s draft is richer in QB talent, with the likes of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels headlining this year’s draft crop.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud, the Ohio State University signal-caller who was taken at No. 2 last year by the Houston Texans, had a sensational rookie year and is looking like a superstar in the making.
However, sometimes quarterbacks take two or three years to develop in the NFL, and thus it is too early to declare Young a bust, especially given how little support he has around him right now.
Unfortunately, Carolina will not have a pick in this year’s draft until the second round, and they only have six picks in total this time around.
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