Alex Smith goes on scathing rant about how Panthers failed QB Bryce Young

If there’s anyone who can relate to the adversity that Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is experiencing, it’s fellow former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.

Smith was thrown into the fire during his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 without much help around him and expected to be the franchise savior. The Panthers did the same thing to Young, only he was benched just two games into his second season in favor of Andy Dalton, and it’s not clear if or when Young will get to start again.

During ESPN’s “Sunday Countdown” before Carolina’s matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith blasted the Panthers for their handling of the 2023 No. 1 overall pick.

“This organization has really failed him,” Smith said. “He’s had three head coaches in 18 games, and who is he playing with out there? This has been hot garbage. I know they’re going to Andy Dalton right now, but they should’ve done this from Day 1 last year and let him sit and learn and make sure when he does play there’s stability around him.”

Smith argued that NFL teams have started banking too much on rookie QBs playing through adversity and figuring it out because of Peyton Manning, which he thinks is a mistake.

Young is just 2-16 as the Panthers’ starter, and he’s thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11).

After his performance in last week’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a game in which he completed 18 of 26 passes for just 84 yards and an interception — Smith believes letting Young sit for a game or two to clear his head may be a decent strategy.

“You can go out there and develop bad habits, you can lose your confidence and it’s shown up in Bryce’s play,” Smith added. “I feel like I lived this and I have such a hard time watching it.”