The Carolina Panthers don’t seem too interested in parting ways with the recently-benched Bryce Young, at least not yet. But what if they were . . . ?
ESPN senior NFL national reporter Dan Graziano explored that scenario, and a handful of others, on Friday—as he named 15 players who could be on the move before this year’s trade deadline. Graziano includes Young in the bunch, writing that there should be other organizations willing to reignite the 2023 No. 1 overall pick:
Two days after benching Young just 18 games into his career for Andy Dalton, Panthers coach Dave Canales said the team isn’t trading Young. But wacky things happen in Carolina and plans change quickly. If the Panthers decide they can’t fix Young, who knows at that point? Surely there are teams out there willing to take on a potential reclamation player who was the first overall pick in the draft 17 months ago.
Young is making only $915,000 in salary this year, but an acquiring team would take on a fully guaranteed $10.13 million in salary over the next two seasons, which could be an impediment. That’s also true for the $12.3 million in dead money the Panthers would incur with a deal — and that assumes they wouldn’t have to pay any of the salary to move him. But again, it’s a tough situation to predict.
Graziano lists the Miami Dolphins as a possible landing spot for Young, who threw for just 245 yards and three touchdowns in two games prior to his demotion earlier this week.
Young is joined by a pair of teammates on the list—running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Graziano connects Sanders to the Dallas Cowboys and Johnson to the New England Patriots.
