The Carolina Panthers could have waited one year for Caleb Williams. Let’s remind ourselves of that point. Instead, they went for the man they thought would be their new franchise quarterback when they took Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
The result: Carolina went 2-15 in an abysmal 2023 NFL season. The Panthers’ offense was awful. Carolina got shut out in each of its last two games. The Panthers rarely collected more than 250 passing yards in the games they played this season. In fact, the one time they went over 300 yards, Bryce Young wasn’t even their quarterback. Andy Dalton filled in and piled up the passing yards against the Seattle Seahawks.
Does this mean Bryce Young is overrated, though? Not necessarily. When an offense is as bad as what we saw with the Panthers, chances are the roster is atrocious.
Carolina’s offensive line could not protect Young. Carolina doesn’t have depth at receiver. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, but they shut out the Panthers on Sunday.
Would Caleb Williams have done better than Bryce Young in Charlotte? Maybe, but not by much. The Panthers don’t have a quarterback problem; they have a roster problem. They also have an ownership problem, given that David Tepper did not get along with coach Frank Reich this season, prompting Reich to get out of town before Year 1 was over. Reich should get a fresh look from another NFL team in need of a head coach. Carolina’s situation is toxic with Tepper in charge.
All of this is a warning to anyone who thinks Caleb Williams can just step in and rescue any NFL organization: Nope. Caleb needs a good situation just like anyone else. Joining a dysfunctional franchise such as the Panthers or the New York Jets, without the right ownership group, front office, and head coach, is a recipe for disaster.
Bryce Young could tell you the same thing.
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.