NFL Coach on Panthers' Bryce Young: I Don't Know of a QB 'Put in a Worse Situation'

As Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young enters his second year in the NFL, some are expecting him to bounce back in a major way from his disastrous rookie season.

The Athletic's Mike Sando polled a group of 50 NFL executives and coaches to rank the top quarterbacks entering the 2024 campaign, and one panelist provided an optimistic perspective for Young.

"I don't know of a human being that has been put in a worse situation as a quarterback ever, so I'm just giving him a little benefit of the doubt," an offensive coach said.

The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, Young started 16 games last season and threw for just 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 59.8 percent of his passes. He was sacked 62 times, the second-highest total in the league.

The Panthers offense suffered from a lack of talent among their skill position players and a subpar offensive line to protect their prized rookie. With many changes in place this year, Young should have more of an opportunity to prove he deserved to be the top pick in last year's draft.

In Young's lone preseason appearance on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills, he threw for 70 yards and a touchdown, which was enough to impress his new head coach Dave Canales.

"Couldn't have dreamt it better,'' Canales said. "A fourth-down conversion in there, but saw him extend plays with his legs, keeping his eyes down the field, finding guys."

Young will look to prove his believers are correct when the Panthers open the 2024 campaign on Sept. 8 against the New Orleans Saints.