The Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts are seemingly emblematic of NFL impatience in 2024. Both franchises have already benched the quarterbacks they selected in the top four picks of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall choice in last year’s draft, made two starts before being pulled by the Panthers. He’s back in the saddle now that veteran Andy Dalton is hurt, but Young doesn’t appear to be Carolina’s long-term answer.
Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick last April, missed most of his rookie campaign with injuries and is now on the bench after the Colts decided to roll with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
How did the Panthers and Colts get here? Did each team make the right decision with their young signal-caller, and what does the future hold for Young and Richardson?
Panthers Should Move On From Bryce Young
The Panthers had virtually no choice but to bench Young and turn to Dalton heading into Week 3. Young, of course, was dreadful in his rookie campaign with Carolina.
His 33.4 QBR was the second-worst in the league, ahead of only Zach Wilson. Young ranked dead last with just 3.68 adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A), a passing metric highly correlated with winning games.
Since 2000, only three first-round quarterbacks have posted worse Year 1 ANY/A marks. One was Matthew Stafford (2009), but the other two were Josh Rosen (2018) and David Carr (2002).
Young was arguably even worse to begin the 2024 season. In Week 1, the Panthers were destroyed by the New Orleans Saints after Young completed just 13 of 30 attempts for 161 yards and two interceptions while taking four sacks.
In Week 2, he averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. According to TruMedia, Young’s 17.2% passing success rate against the Bolts was the sixth-worst mark for a QB with at least 20 attempts in a game since 2020. He ranked 32nd in EPA per dropback (-0.44) through two starts before first-year head coach Dave Canales called it quits.
Young was better after returning to the starting lineup in Week 8. He completed 24 of 37 attempts for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions against a Denver Broncos defense that ranked No. 1 in EPA per pass. Young earned a C+ in PFN’s QB+ grading system, the fifth-best mark of his career.
This was an excellent ball by Bryce Young to Jalen Coker. One thing that stands out to me here is that 9 is showing poise vs. pressure. Again, another thing that was missing from Weeks 1-2. pic.twitter.com/AJZlwtDy3u
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) October 28, 2024
In Week 9, Young helped Carolina to its second win of the season. He received his second consecutive C+ in PFN+ after completing 16 of 26 attempts for 171 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 23-22 victory over the Saints.
Still, there are plenty of reasons to think the Panthers should move on from Young before next week’s NFL trade deadline.
Canales, who has a six-year contract to try to get things turned around in Carolina, had no hand in drafting Young last year. Neither did first-year executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tillis. General manager Dan Morgan was in the Panthers’ office when Young was selected, but then-GM Scott Fitterer (along with owner David Tepper) was calling the shots.
Carolina is trending toward drafting another QB early in next year’s NFL Draft, so they will likely move Young during the offseason if he’s not traded over the next week. He is not expected to be a part of the Panthers’ 2025 plans.
Four unknown teams reportedly reached out regarding Young’s availability after Carolina benched the former Heisman winner heading into Week 3. The Panthers have maintained they won’t trade Young, but teams who want a lottery-ticket quarterback could make attractive offers until the Nov. 5 deadline.
How Colts Can Save Anthony Richardson
While Young and Richardson were chosen three picks apart, the Colts’ quarterback conundrum feels endlessly more complicated.
Carolina might be able to easily cut bait with Young and move on to another highly drafted passer in 2025. But Indianapolis is in a much different situation.
The Colts (4-4) are still involved in the playoff race in a watered-down AFC. While PFN’s Playoff Predictor only gives Indy a 14.3% chance of making the postseason, they’re just a game back in the AFC Wild Card hunt.
We’ll get to Richardson’s lackluster production shortly, but his statistical results might’ve been secondary in the Colts’ decision to bench him. Richardson removed himself for a play after back-to-back scrambles in Week 8, a no-no for NFL quarterbacks.
Steichen did not defend Richardson’s actions on Monday. Center Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis’ longest-tenured player, said it was a “tough, tough look” for the second-year quarterback. On his podcast, Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said Richardson should’ve never admitted to the media that he was “tired.”
Steichen claimed Richardson’s decision to tap out was not why he was benched. Still, it’s fair to wonder if the 22-year-old’s action caused a rift within Indy’s veteran locker room.
While the Panthers showered Young with praise after benching him, the Colts haven’t handled Richardson in the same way. Steichen said Flacco will be the club’s quarterback moving forward, adding that he “can’t predict the future” when asked if Richardson will start again in 2024.
Richardson said the Indy’s decision-makers didn’t necessarily explain his benching. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said he learned about the change via social media.
I asked #Colts QB Anthony Richardson how/why HC Shane Steichen explained him being benched:
“He just told me they were gonna go with Joe (Flacco) and that was that. And I just had to take in the information and just grow.”
So, did Steichen explain why?
“Nah, not necessarily.” pic.twitter.com/RNrKSFVzx0
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 30, 2024
Week 8 undoubtedly represented Richardson’s nadir. He earned a D- grade for his performance against the Houston Texans on Sunday, the lowest score among all qualified quarterbacks in Week 8 and the worst mark of his career.
Richardson completed just 20 of 56 attempts (36%) over the past two games. Since 2000, only four other quarterbacks have completed 36% or fewer of their passes across a two-game stretch. He’s the first to do it since 2009.
Completion rate isn’t everything, but Richardson wasn’t efficient, either. He ranked 27th in EPA per dropback through eight weeks, ahead of only Bo Nix, Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, and Will Levis.
Still, when Indianapolis selected Richardson near the top of the 2023 NFL Draft, the team knew he was relatively raw coming out of the University of Florida and would need time to develop in the NFL.
Richardson’s progression timeline was only extended after he missed most of his rookie campaign due to injury. Even if the Colts didn’t think he would be quite this unrefined as a passer, his early struggles from the pocket can’t be a complete surprise.
Richardson needs in-game reps. Even if you can buy that sitting him against Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores — who blitzes at the league’s highest rate — in Week 9 is the best thing for Richardson’s confidence, he needs to get back under center sooner rather than later.
Steichen has suggested that Flacco won’t be benched unless he suffers an injury, but Indy has to rethink that strategy. As soon as it becomes clear that the Colts are no longer in this season’s playoff race, Richardson should be given every remaining snap to close the campaign.
Which NFL Teams Could Trade For Young or Richardson?
Which teams could be interested in taking a chance on last year’s No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks? Let’s run through the teams that could make sense for Young and Richardson, either before Tuesday’s deadline or during the 2025 offseason.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback situation is a total mess. They benched free agent addition Gardner Minshew heading into Week 6, only to be forced to re-insert the veteran when replacement Aidan O’Connell broke his thumb in Week 7.
In Week 9, Antonio Pierce benched Minshew again. This time, the Raiders turned to Desmond Ridder, whom they signed off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 21.
None of Las Vegas’ signal-callers look like long-term options. If the Raiders don’t finish poorly enough to grab a franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Tom Telesco might be willing to take a chance on Young or Richardson.
Cleveland Browns
If Deshaun Watson is healthy enough to play in 2025, he’s essentially un-cuttable. Cleveland signed Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract upon acquiring him in 2022 and has continued to restructure his deal by moving money into future seasons.
However, just because Watson — who’s out for the year after tearing his Achilles in Week 7 — is on the roster doesn’t mean he would have to start. General manager Andrew Berry could target a younger option like Young or Richardson while turning Watson into an overpaid backup.
However, Cleveland will face the NFL’s fourth-hardest schedule over the rest of the season. The Browns are already 2-7. If they keep losing games, they could finish with the league’s worst record and have their pick of QB prospects at the top of the draft.
New York Giants
As shown on HBO’s offseason version of Hard Knocks, the New York Giants seemingly spent the winter and spring trying to replace Daniel Jones. He’s still the club’s starter after GM Joe Schoen failed to trade up for a quarterback like Drake Maye in April, but the Giants will almost assuredly cut Jones next offseason.
Depending on how New York approaches Jones’ release, the team could save between $22 million and $30 million against the 2025 salary cap space. Unless Jones drastically rebounds over the second half of the year, he’s as good as gone.
Schoen and Giants head coach Brian Daboll might no longer be making decisions for the club next offseason, but New York will need a new quarterback. If they’re again out of range for a draft prospect, Young and Richardson will be on Big Blue’s radar.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams will eventually need a successor for Matthew Stafford, who looks as good as ever in 2024 but will turn 37 years old in February. While Young and Richardson have struggled, they’d theoretically get more time to process while working behind Stafford in L.A.
Moreover, their affordable rookie deals mean the Rams would only be paying Young or Richardson backup quarterback money. Carolina or Indianapolis would absorb the rest of Young or Richardson’s bonus earnings as dead money. Los Angeles would have either option under contract through 2026 for less than $12 million.
Miami Dolphins
While Tua Tagovailoa returned from injured reserve in Week 8, the Miami Dolphins have to be concerned about their franchise quarterback’s concussion history. Mike McDaniel’s offense was barely functional when Tua was sidelined from Weeks 3 through 8. Heading into next season without a viable backup plan isn’t an option.
Young’s struggles are evident, but could he find success in Miami’s RPO-heavy attack? Richardson would certainly fit in with the rest of the Dolphins’ über-athletes.