Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back earlier this week when it came to Bryce Young.
The Carolina Panthers benched the QB in favor of Andy Dalton this week, and the “First Take” host has been vocal bout just how bad Young has been.
“When he was picked No. 1 overall, I didn’t hear a lot of people ‘poo-pooing’ that, to be fair to him,” Smith said of the former Alabama quarterback, who is 2-16 as a starter. “But it’s been an unmitigated disaster.
“I wanna keep y’all in mind. I wanna throw some numbers out here for you, (Shannon Sharpe), and for you, (Domonique Foxworth). Do you know in the last 10 games — 10 games — the Carolina Panthers have led for only 10 seconds? They’ve had a lead for 10 seconds over the last 10 games. I mean, that is an atrocity. We’re looking at Bryce Young right now. You’re talking about among 32 quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts, his record is 2-16 — worst in the NFL; 59.3 percent completion percentage — dead last; 173.4 passing yards per game — 31 of 32 quarterbacks. That’s where he ranks.
“The only person that was worse, dating back to last season, is Kenny Pickett. Last in yards per attempt, last in touchdown percentage, (and) last in passer rating. This is what we’re talking about; and he’s completed just 38% of his passes in his career with one touchdown and five interceptions when under pressure.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, JaMarcus Russell wasn’t even that bad. And you know how I felt about JaMarcus Russell. I mean, this is maybe the biggest bust in NFL history. These are the kind of things that are starting to be brought up.”
Russell was the No. 1 pick by the Raiders in 2007 but played just three seasons in the league.
Young, on the other hand, was the No. 1 pick in 2023 and selected ahead of C.J. Stroud, who went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
