Stephen A. Smith on Bryce Young: Could He Become the Worst No. 1 NFL Draft Pick?

In a recent episode of ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith, along with Shannon Sharpe and Domonique Foxworth, delved into a heated debate about Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. The discussion centered around whether Young, the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, could go down as the worst No. 1 draft pick in history.

Stephen A. Smith didn't hold back, labeling Young's performance with the Panthers as an "unmitigated disaster." Highlighting some shocking statistics, Smith pointed out that in the last 10 games, the Panthers have only led for a mere 10 seconds. Young's record stands at 2-6, with a 59.3% completion percentage, which ranks last in the NFL. Furthermore, he averages just 173.50 passing yards per game, placing him 31st among 32 quarterbacks. These numbers paint a grim picture for the young quarterback.

Domonique Foxworth and Shannon Sharpe also weighed in on the situation. Foxworth expressed his concerns about the Panthers' handling of their quarterback situation, emphasizing that the entire process, from evaluation to selection and development, has been a complete failure. Meanwhile, Sharpe provided his insights, pondering whether the blame lies more with the team than with Young himself.

Adding to the controversy, Young was recently benched in favor of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, just a day after Coach Dave Canalis assured that Young would remain the starter for the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders. This decision marks a significant moment in NFL history, as Young becomes the first No. 1 quarterback to be benched for non-injury reasons in his second season since the common draft era began in 1967.

The debate reached its peak when Stephen A. Smith summarized Young's struggles under pressure, with only a 38% completion rate, one touchdown, and five interceptions in such situations. The comparisons to past draft busts like JaMarcus Russell were inevitable, adding further fuel to the discussion.

To dive deeper into this intense debate and hear more from Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and Domonique Foxworth, watch the full episode on ESPN’s YouTube channel.