Carolina Panthers’ Frustration Grows as Rookie QB Struggles: Offense Under Fire
The Carolina Panthers had high hopes for rookie quarterback Bryce Young when they traded up to acquire him as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, halfway through the season, it’s safe to say that things haven’t gone according to plan for the Panthers. Frustration is reportedly growing within the organization as Young struggles on the field.
Led by owner David Tepper’s desire to find a franchise-caliber quarterback, the Panthers made a bold move by giving up multiple assets to secure the top pick. They traded away receiver D.J. Moore, their 9th and 61st overall picks, a first-round pick in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025 to the Chicago Bears. The goal was to immediately turn the Panthers into one of the NFL’s breakout teams.
Unfortunately, the results have been underwhelming. Young has performed poorly compared to other rookie quarterbacks, and the Panthers’ offense has actually regressed from the previous season with former starter Sam Darnold. Compounding the disappointment, the team’s projected top-five pick now belongs to the Bears.
While the organization still believes that Young is the long-term solution at quarterback, owner David Tepper is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with the offense’s lack of improvement. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Tepper is not happy with the current state of the offense. Others within the organization have also criticized the roster construction around Young and described the offense as lifeless this year.
The Panthers specifically hired head coach Frank Reich for his track record with quarterbacks and his success as a play-caller. Tepper provided the necessary financial resources to build a coaching staff that was highly regarded in the league. However, despite these efforts, there has been a clear message sent to everyone in the organization – more progress and improvement on offense is expected.
Tepper has a history of making abrupt changes. In the five years since purchasing the team, he has already gone through five head coaches. Similarly, his tenure with Charlotte’s MLS team has seen frequent management changes. Although many believe that Tepper was the driving force behind trading up for the No. 1 pick and drafting Young, it is evident that Carolina’s roster hasn’t been built well enough to support the young quarterback.
Internal criticisms of the roster have brought the front office under scrutiny. The Panthers reportedly turned down a trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams before the 2022 NFL trade deadline that would have brought them two first-round picks in exchange for edge rusher Brian Burns. With limited draft assets and cap space, Carolina now faces the challenge of extending their best defensive player while also building a strong supporting cast around Young.
In conclusion, frustration is mounting within the Carolina Panthers organization as their rookie quarterback Bryce Young struggles on the field. Owner David Tepper is becoming increasingly frustrated with the offense’s lack of improvement, while others within the organization criticize the roster construction and describe the offense as lifeless. Despite the disappointment, there is still belief that Young is the long-term solution at quarterback. However, the Panthers will need to address their roster issues and provide better support for their young signal-caller in order to turn their fortunes around.
