As Big Cat says (and I try to give him credit every time I use that phrase), dysfunctional teams behave in dysfunctional ways.
The Panthers are dysfunctional right now, and they have been dysfunctional a lot in the past.
More recently, the team benched and suspended quarterback Bryce Young after just 18 regular season games. The final decision, regardless of who made it, may have been necessary to avoid a total locker room meltdown, but it was the culmination of the vicious chaos stoked by owner David Tepper.
So what’s next for Young? Coach Dave Canales said the Panthers aren’t considering trading their No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, but they should.
If they/Tepper decide Young isn’t the right fit, they should take his remaining contractual pay and move on. They/Tepper tried. It didn’t work. To the team’s credit, they/Tepper admitted they were wrong instead of doubling down on their bets.
And they/Tepper didn’t explain the benching as a temporary respite or what they/Woody did when the Jets benched him during Zach Wilson’s second season. No matter how you look at it (looking at it through the lens of a properly functioning franchise), it appears the Panthers have parted ways with Young.
If so, they/Tepper should do the right thing for Bryce Young and trade him. Yes, they have his contractual rights. As if he has a say in the matter. They drafted him. They gave up a lot to get him (including the pick that became Caleb Williams) and the added pressure and expectations that come with the #1 overall pick.
They/Tepper believed, and now they don’t, so let the kid try to rebuild his career.
Trade him like the 49ers did when they traded Trey Lance after it became clear Brock Purdy was the right fit. Young is on a big rookie contract, so don’t hang on to him for another year. If you don’t believe in him, give him a chance to hit the reset button.
Unfortunately, dysfunctional teams obsess over things that don’t matter, like what Young would have done differently for another team. Look no further than the Jets, whose mishandling of Geno Smith and Sam Darnold made them look foolish, even as both players performed at a much higher level for other teams.
The Panthers should not let such minor concerns affect how they handle Young. They/Tepper tried and failed. Give the young man a fresh start, even if he ends up fulfilling the potential elsewhere that prompted them/Tepper to trade up for him.