The Carolina Panthers made a few big moves during the 2023 offseason, most, if not all of which they wish they could hit the reset button on. Putting together a massive trade package to acquire the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears has not panned out to this point.
Bryce Young, who was selected first overall, hasn’t looked great, which is partly a byproduct of the supporting cast around him. He didn’t make it through his rookie season with the same head coach either, as the other big move, hiring Frank Reich as head coach, was undone quickly.
Reich was fired after a 1-10 start and things haven’t gotten any better. Chris Tabor, the interim replacement, is 0-2 and the Panthers haven’t been overly competitive. They are riding a six-game losing streak and are 1-12 on the season.
NFL News & Rumors: Bryce Young, David Tepper, Carolina Panthers Updates
Normally, that kind of ineptitude would at least result in getting a high pick in the draft. The Panthers will accomplish that, but won’t reap the benefits. Their first-round pick is heading to the Bears as part of the trade package to move up and select Young.
That is one major reason why Bill Barnwell of ESPN has the Panthers head coach opening ranked last in his top-10 list. The presence of Young and a quick-trigger owner in David Tepper make this job an undesirable one in Barnwell’s opinion.
“There certainly are skeptics of Young’s ability to succeed at the NFL level given his size and 5-10 frame, but the hiring process is self-fulfilling: The Panthers will only hire someone who believes Young is a superstar in the making, in part because they have no choice but to develop him as best they can over the next couple of seasons. Given team owner David Tepper’s typical timeline for coaches, though, there should be something ringing in the back of the heads of potential candidates: If Young’s not the guy in Carolina, will I still be around when it’s time to target the next quarterback of the future,” Barnwell wrote.
Tepper’s reputation as an owner who is impatient and meddles with some of the football personnel’s decision-making makes this a job not one many candidates will have at the top of their list, given the other openings around the league. But, given the state of the franchise, a candidate could land a very long deal knowing there is a lot of work to be done.
NFL News & Rumors: Bryce Young, David Tepper, Carolina Panthers Updates
If they can negotiate something like a six-year deal, there is some appeal here. Also, the roster isn’t fully barren of building blocks, as the defense has some young talent to get excited about.
Also, the chance to turn things around and be a winner rather quickly is present. The Panthers finished 7-10 last season but essentially played for the division title in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game they lost. With a team under .500 potentially winning the division for a second straight season, the Panthers could be back in the mix in 2024 with a strong offseason.
If there is a candidate out there who believes in Young as the franchise quarterback as well, this is an appealing job. Finding an answer under center is the most important thing for a franchise. If Young is your guy, combined with the young pieces on defense and lackluster division, the right candidate could turn things around rapidly.
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