Benching Bryce Young probably marks the end of his time with the Carolina Panthers, but current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield believes this is not the last we’ll see of the former first-overall pick. During a recent press conference, Mayfield discussed Young’s benching and threw his full support behind the embattled quarterback, saying that “his story is far, far from finished” while noting that the two have similar origins in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield was asked about the Panthers’ decision to bench Bryce Young. “A lot of time, guys have the talent, they might have the brains but they don’t have the right opportunity or the right fit,” Mayfield said. “I’m sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other… pic.twitter.com/of4vSRDGE6
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Baker Mayfield: Bryce Young Will “Get It,” Thrive In NFL
Baker Mayfield can probably relate to Bryce Young more than any other player in the game. Like Young, Mayfield entered the league as the first-overall pick, tasked with turning around a historically inept organization in the Cleveland Browns. While the Oklahoma product had his highs and lows with Cleveland, he ultimately ended his tenure on a low note and was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Unfortunately, he struggled there as well, starting just six games before requesting his release midway through the season.
However, this wasn’t the end of Mayfield’s story. The 2018 first-overall pick spent the remainder of the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams, showing signs of life while leading one of the most improbable game-winning drives you’ll ever see. He parlayed this into a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, guiding the team to the NFC Divisional Round in the first year of the post-Tom Brady Era. Now, he looks like one of the league’s top quarterbacks through two weeks of action. Baker Mayfield turned it around, but can we expect similar results from Bryce Young?
Is He Right?
Unfortunately for everyone involved, the answer is probably no. Bryce Young and Baker Mayfield might have similar backstories, but a deeper dive shows that these two have clear differences that could prevent Young from enjoying similar success once he leaves the Panthers.
For one, Mayfield had a history of success with Cleveland. While his tenure ultimately ended on a low note, it’s worth mentioning that the quarterback showed signs of being a competent passer. In 2018, he took over a team that won a collective one game over the past two seasons and guided them to a 6-7 finish, completing 63.8% of his passes for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Two years later, he led Cleveland to their first playoff win since dinosaurs roamed the land while completing 62.8% of his passes for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions despite no real help from his receivers.
Despite his high draft capital, Bryce Young has never demonstrated an ability to play as well as Baker Mayfield. The Alabama product ranks at or near the bottom of just about every major passing statistic, and his efficiency ranks are historically low. According to Austin Gayle, Young’s EPA/play through 18 games is worse than notorious draft bust Zach Wilson. EPA is a team stat, but the quarterback’s performance primarily drives it. Historically speaking, players that start this horribly never turn it around. Perhaps Young can be the exception to the rule, but history is not on his side.
Main Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell – USA Today Sports
