Earlier this week, the Carolina Panthers announced that they are benching Bryce Young, the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, after just 18 starts in his young career. This immediately sparked rumors about a potential trade involving Young, despite Panthers head coach Dave Canales affirming that “Bryce is our quarterback” and that a trade isn’t under consideration. However, a source close to Young revealed that he is “open to anything” regarding his future, whether in Carolina or elsewhere. Would the Panthers really trade their former first overall pick after just 18 games, especially after giving up a significant package to the Chicago Bears to draft him? It seems unlikely, but with David Tepper leading the franchise, anything is possible.
Among the rumors, one surprising destination for Young was Seattle. ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently named the Miami Dolphins as a top contender for Young, but also mentioned the Jets, Rams, and Seahawks as potential suitors. Miami might make sense if Tua Tagovailoa is seriously considering retirement, although reports suggest Tua plans to keep playing. The Jets and Rams, both with aging quarterbacks, could see Young as a future replacement for Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford.
As for Seattle, the Seahawks have been linked to several quarterbacks since trading Russell Wilson in 2022, including Baker Mayfield and Justin Fields. However, each time, GM John Schneider has opted to stick with Geno Smith, which has paid off. Smith is off to a strong start this season, completing 73.9% of his passes with 498 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 69.8 QBR. His performance against the Patriots even earned him a nomination for Air Player of the Week, suggesting that sticking with Smith over trading for Young might be the smarter option.
The counterargument is that it’s still early in the season, and Smith, who turns 34 in October, is aging. However, Smith has performed well the past two seasons, earning back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances. Additionally, having spent much of his career as a backup, he hasn’t endured the same wear and tear as other quarterbacks his age.
Another factor is that the Seahawks already traded for Sam Howell this past spring, a young quarterback project with starting potential and two years remaining on his rookie contract. Acquiring Young could feel redundant, though Young’s status as a former first overall pick makes him more intriguing than Howell. Additionally, despite Young’s struggles in his 18 starts, former Panthers quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have thrived after leaving Carolina. This season, Darnold has completed 71.3% of his passes with 476 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Mayfield has completed 73.5% of his passes for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns. These improvements suggest the problem may lie with the Panthers organization rather than Young himself.
Even with these arguments, a trade for Young would likely be challenging. Carolina would probably want at least a day-two pick in return, and Seattle’s quarterback room would become crowded with Smith, Howell, and Young. This would likely force the team to move on from either Smith or Howell. However, would John Schneider part ways with a Pro Bowl quarterback beloved by his teammates (Smith) or a young, affordable project (Howell)?
Ultimately, unless Smith’s performance takes a significant dip, a trade for Young seems improbable. Graziano’s speculation likely stems from the national media’s ongoing skepticism about Smith, still viewing him as a short-term solution rather than a long-term option for Seattle.
