In time, the Carolina Panthers could have their next franchise quarterback in Bryce Young. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has already started to show occasional flashes of playmaking and great anticipation as a young guy but is, unfortunately, floundering on an otherwise moribund Panthers squad.
It seems Carolina can’t use Young for every important play, either. Take a quarterback sneak on a key Panthers fourth-and-short against the New Orleans Saints Monday night. While sitting in opposition territory in a 6-3 affair, the Panthers subbed out Young for Dalton. Huh, that’s a little odd, you might think. Sure, you probably want the more experienced player taking in a vital play. But there’s no real reason Young shouldn’t be able to handle all the responsibilities the Panthers ask him to.
Given the nature of a quarterback sneak — where the player must often gain a yard or less by inching over the line — it’s unsurprising. The Panthers seemingly took Young out because he’s a listed 5-foot-10 while Dalton is a listed 6-foot-2. And it almost blew up in their face: Dalton’s cadence led to a false start before kicker Eddy Pineiro had to make a 54-yard attempt.
So yes, the Panthers could have a special signal caller on their hands. And ultimately, being potentially too short for quarterback sneaks probably won’t mean anything for Young as the leader of a team. If the alternative is true — the Panthers don’t trust Young in that situation regardless of his physique — then they have a significant problem on their hands.
Still, it was a little bizarre watching a top pick apparently get substituted for his height.