The NFL is a league that relies heavily on young potential in the hope for the future. Every year, teams draft youngsters with the expectation that they will grow into exceptional players capable of leading their franchises to championships. This year, Carolina Panthers placed their bet on Bryce Young, the former Alabama quarterback, who was selected with the first overall pick in the draft. Despite his immense talent, it seems that Young will have to wait for his chance to shine.

The move follows similar career paths taken by football legends like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, who both started their careers as backups and learned from the sidelines before becoming starters.

The Panthers don’t want to rush Bryce Young

According to the Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer, the team plans on benching Young at the beginning of the season, giving former Saints backup quarterback Andy Dalton a chance as the team’s starter. A tweet by ‘NFL Rumors’ stated, “The Carolina Panthers will have Andy Dalton as their starting QB. The team is not expected to rush rookie QB Bryce Young.”

Of course, there are no guarantees that Young will follow in these legends’ footsteps. Nevertheless, by giving him time to learn and develop behind a veteran like Andy Dalton, Carolina aims to prepare him better for starting in NFL when his time comes. This strategy has worked well for other young quarterbacks recently too. Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears spent his rookie season learning from Andy Dalton before eventually taking over as a starter.

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While there is always a risk of stunting young players’ growth by keeping them benched too long, Panthers seem confident they’re making the right move. Of course, this plan is not set in stone, ultimately it’s up to the coaching staff when they decide if Young is ready to take over as starter. But, for the time being, Panther’s management is pleased to let him observe from the sidelines, knowing that when his turn comes, he’ll be walking in the shadows of some of the best quarterbacks the sport has ever seen.

Young is on the same track as Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady

It’s worth noting that both Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady began their NFL careers as backups.

During his rookie season in 2017, Mahomes was drafted by Kansas City Chiefs but did not receive playing time. He studied the team’s playbook and spent time learning the game from the sidelines, while Alex Smith served as the starting quarterback. But the next year he was named starting quarterback for the Chiefs and immediately became one of the most active players in the league.

Similarly, Tom Brady was drafted by New England Patriots but spent his rookie season as a backup to Drew Bledsoe. Although he only saw limited playing time, Brady showed flashes of potential. His big break came in 2001 when Bledsoe suffered an injury and he was thrust into the starting lineup. Against all odds, he led them to a Super Bowl victory, one of many that would follow.

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The experiences of these two great quarterbacks highlight how important it is to be patient, persevere through tough times, and prepare thoroughly for your opportunity when it comes knocking on your door in NFL. Both players made sure they were ready when their chance finally arrived by honing their skills while on bench duty – gaining a deeper understanding of the game before taking center stage as starters.