After a 2-16 begin to his NFL profession, the Carolina Panthers are changing quarterback Bryce Younger with Andy Dalton for Sunday’s recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
That makes Younger the primary quarterback chosen No. 1 total within the frequent draft period (since 1967) to be benched for non-injury causes.
The Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears to accumulate the 2023 No. 1 total decide to draft Younger, who’s 0-2 this season. His Complete QBR this season (8.9) is third worst over a two-game stretch since ESPN started utilizing the metric in 2011.
The Panthers have been outscored 73-13 the primary two weeks, with their solely landing approaching a scramble by Younger that originally was dominated a fumble. The 60-point differential is the worst by a group within the first two video games since 2019.
Carolina’s offensive effectivity ranking (.70) by way of two video games ranks final out of 608 situations for Weeks 1-2 because it was first tracked in 2006, and so they have transformed two of twenty-two third-down alternatives, worst within the NFL.
The record goes on and on, however finally the Panthers imagine Dalton offers them a greater likelihood of profitable after they spent the offseason making upgrades on the talent positions and offensive line to assist Younger.
ESPN’s Panthers reporter David Newton, Saints reporter Katherine Terrell, NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid, nationwide NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analysts Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder break down what led to the change and what it means going ahead.
Why wasn’t it sustainable to maintain Younger at starter?
Receiver Adam Thielen, who acquired visibly upset on the sideline Sunday after Younger was sacked on a third-down play when Thielen was wide-open, mentioned after the 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers this “is not a Bryce Younger challenge.” He went out of his method to say how a lot he beloved Younger and would combat for him. That was the temper of gamers all through the locker room.
Coach Dave Canales did not appear in a rush to make a change after the sport, saying, “Bryce Younger is our quarterback” when requested who would begin Sunday towards the Raiders.
So Younger hasn’t misplaced the locker room. What he has carried out is lose two video games by a mixed 60 factors and fail to throw a landing go, whereas by no means trying comfy operating the offense and persevering with to make dangerous choices. And he did not take command of Canales’ quarterback-friendly scheme that helped flip round Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay), Geno Smith (Seattle) and Russell Wilson (Seattle) previously.
Canales knew benching Younger would ship a unfavorable sign to the locker room. He additionally knew not benching Younger would not give the Panthers a sensible likelihood of profitable. — Newton
Simply how dangerous have the Panthers been to start out the season?
The Panthers have been traditionally dangerous to start out the 2024 season, based on my DVOA rankings. They’ve the ninth worst total DVOA of 1,397 groups since 1979 by way of Week 2, going again to 1979. The offense is even decrease, rating because the seventh-worst offense of any group by way of Week 2. It isn’t simply Younger who’s been terrible, because the Panthers are lifeless final in go DVOA and thirty first in rush DVOA, forward of solely this week’s opponent, the Raiders.
If we have a look at historical past, the Panthers’ season cannot be utterly written off but. Principally written off, certain. However the second-worst offense ever by way of Week 2 belonged to the 1989 Steelers. That group misplaced its first two video games by a mixed rating of 92-10, then rebounded to complete the season 9-7 and make the playoffs. (The worst offense ever by way of Week 2 belonged to the 2002 enlargement Texans, and so they have been horrible all season.)
One other fascinating comparability can be the 2001 Washington group which had the fifth-worst offense ever by way of Week 2. That group benched quarterback Jeff George and went to Tony Banks after two video games, then rebounded to complete the yr 8-8. After all, there is a huge distinction between benching a 34-year-old veteran in comparison with benching final yr’s No. 1 total draft decide.
Different groups among the many worst offenses ever by way of Week 2 embody the 2019 Dolphins, 2006 Raiders, 2013 Jaguars and 1999 enlargement Browns. — Schatz
What are the choices for Carolina shifting ahead?
The one possibility is clear-cut: Hope for the most effective with Dalton whereas permitting Younger to reset behind the scenes for an eventual — if not far-fetched — rebirth.
The one advantage of benching Younger this early is they may return to him, and this transfer type of saves him from himself after two ghastly weeks. However most individuals contained in the league who I’ve spoken to have been no less than mildly stunned by the transfer — particularly as Carolina is taken into account one of many NFL’s most talent-deficient groups. Folks contained in the Panthers constructing are stunned. They knew Younger’s play would ultimately get him benched if it did not enhance, however two weeks is a fast hook.
One veteran NFL personnel man had a unique take. “They needed to bench that man,” he mentioned. “The offense was nonfunctional.”
Canales will depend on the expertise and savvy of Dalton, whose 50.9 profession win share looms massive right here. It was famous to me a number of occasions this offseason that Dalton did job of pushing Younger in observe — all the time talked about after praising Younger’s progress. I did not take that as a sign to place Dalton on my Week 3 bingo card.
“Possibly [Canales] thought he was unfixable,” an AFC government mentioned. “There is not quite a lot of persistence and growth in our league anymore. You play early and want to supply shortly.” — Fowler
What can we anticipate from Andy Dalton?
Dalton has a relentless constructive angle and a peaceful demeanor. He by no means will get too excessive or low, and the Panthers desperately want that proper now with a lot going flawed.
Whereas Dalton is not a full-time starter anymore, he has began 30 video games for 4 completely different groups since he misplaced his beginning job with the Cincinnati Bengals after the 2019 season. He has expertise in basically each state of affairs, and when the Panthers play in Germany on Nov. 10, Dalton might make his fourth begin in a global recreation.
The Saints introduced him in to again up Jameis Winston in 2022 and favored his play sufficient to maintain him because the everlasting starter that season after Winston was injured early on.
Dalton won’t be the kind of quarterback who can elevate the play of his teammates on offense. He is normally pretty much as good because the supporting solid round him. However Dalton definitely will not make issues worse.
It has been a very long time since Dalton’s finest seasons in Cincinnati, however there’s a motive groups have regularly turned to him as a starter previously few years. He is aware of tips on how to lead a struggling group, and he’ll restrict errors to assist them scratch out some wins. — Terrell
Who might Carolina choose at QB within the 2025 draft?
The Panthers arguably have the worst roster within the NFL proper now. Exterior of defensive finish Derrick Brown, who’s out for the season with a knee harm, there aren’t many foundational items to construct on. So what lies forward in 2025?
If the Panthers resolve to maneuver on from Younger, they may decide one other signal-caller atop the draft since they personal their first-round decide in 2025. Georgia’s Carson Beck is presently the top-ranked passer within the 2025 class, whereas Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Texas’ Quinn Ewers are additionally viable choices close to the highest. Miami’s Cam Ward is a wild card to keep watch over, as his quick begin is already catapulting him up draft boards.
That mentioned, the 2025 QB crop is not practically as sturdy because it was in 2024, when a file six passers have been drafted throughout the first 12 picks. So possibly the Panthers resolve to go one other path with their first-round alternative.
If Carolina elects to attend on drafting a QB, its focus might flip to including an offensive or defensive playmaker. Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. or Georgia edge Mykel Williams might all present an instantaneous enhance. The Panthers might additionally discover buying and selling again with a group trying to take one of many prime QBs. That might permit them to accumulate extra 2025 draft capital or future picks to bolster a roster that is presently disadvantaged of high-end younger expertise. — Reid
Do the Panthers have any shot to get again into the NFC South race?
I extremely doubt it. Sure, Younger was an enormous drawback. However by way of (nearly) two weeks of the season, this group additionally ranked thirtieth in EPA per play allowed on protection, twenty fourth in go block win charge and twenty eighth in run block win charge. These are all areas which have little to do with quarterback play and can seemingly nonetheless stay points after the quarterback change. Their finest participant on protection, Brown, is on injured reserve and carried out for the season.
I believe Carolina is definitely upgrading its offense with the quarterback transfer, however the concept of Dalton — who has a 48 QBR because the begin of 2021 — parachuting into this group and turning it right into a division title contender appears far-fetched. In spite of everything, the Panthers have a 2.0% likelihood to make the playoffs and a 0.4% likelihood to win the NFC South. — Walder