Bryce Young has faced plenty of criticism over the nightmare start to his NFL career, but no one is more down on the Carolina Panthers quarterback than Stephen A. Smith.
During Tuesday morning’s edition of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith discussed the decision the Panthers made this week to bench Young in favor of Andy Dalton. It would be an understatement to say Smith believes it was the right move. The analyst rattled off a series of unflattering stats about Young before saying the former No. 1 overall pick could be “the biggest bust in NFL history.”
“Ladies and gentleman, JaMarcus Russell wasn’t even that bad, and you know how I felt about JaMarcus Russell,” Smith said. “This is maybe the biggest bust in NFL history. These are the kind of things that are starting to be brought up.”
Stephen A. Smith rolls out the brutal statistics of the Bryce Young era in Carolina before calling him "maybe the biggest bust in NFL history."
"Ladies and gentlemen, JaMarcus Russell wasn't even that bad." pic.twitter.com/b0JA7NHVgk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 17, 2024
The numbers have certainly been atrocious. Young went a combined 31/56 for 245 yards, no touchdowns and 3 interceptions in Carolina’s first two games this year. He had just 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 16 games last season. If you compare the start of Young’s career to that of Russell, a lot of the key stats are comparable.
The depressing thing is he’s not being hyperbolic. Over their first 18 games:
Young: 11 TDs, 13 INT, 70.9 QB Rating, 2-16 record
Russell: 13 TDs, 11 INT, 72.6 QBR, 5-13 record
— Mike Bowers (@THEMikeBowers) September 17, 2024
Russell, who was also a No. 1 overall pick, is widely viewed as the biggest draft bust of all time. He lasted just three seasons with the Oakland Raiders and never played in the NFL again after that. That is the key difference between him and Young at this point.
Plenty of players have had terrible starts to their careers and gone on to find success. Young still has an opportunity to do that, which is why Smith’s take is premature. That said, it is certainly concerning that Panthers head coach Dave Canales — a former quarterbacks coach — turned on Young so quickly.
If Young never does anything else in the NFL, he will certainly take his place among the NFL’s all-time draft busts. Considering he is just 23 and on a terrible team, it is way too early to make that call.
