Bryce Young had a rough rookie season. No getting around that. But I do see one area where he was sneaky good, coming in above expectations.
Young is mobile, and he has a nice feel for when to take off and run. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry last year. That’s a good number.
Among quarterbacks in the 32-team era, only six have averaged more yards per carry that Young while carrying the ball at least 30 times in their first season. So there’s that.
Not that the Panthers want Young running too often; he’s tiny, and with a slender build. They don’t want him getting knocked out of action by exposing himself to an unnecessary hit.
Whether the Panthers can get Young back on track depends largely on what Dave Canales (their new coach) can cook up in the passing game. Canales did a good job with another undersized quarterback in the NFC South last year, Baker Mayfield.
But Young should help his cause with some well-timed scrambles in crucial situations. I’m not giving up on him just yet. I would guess that in a 12-team draft today, with everyone picking two at the position, Young might sneak onto a roster as a second quarterback.
Below see the list of all quarterbacks since the move to 32 teams who’ve carried the ball at least 30 times and averaged more than 4 yards per carry. (As I was putting this together, I saw Michael Vick from the 2001 season; his production was so off the charts, I tossed him into the list as well.)
| ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS, YARDS PER CARRY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2001 | Michael Vick, Atl. | 31 | 289 | 9.3 | 1 |
| 2014 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 56 | 419 | 7.5 | 0 |
| 2017 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 36 | 269 | 7.5 | 2 |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 34 | 252 | 7.4 | 2 |
| 2018 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 89 | 631 | 7.1 | 8 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin, Was. | 120 | 815 | 6.8 | 7 |
| 2006 | Vince Young, Ten. | 83 | 552 | 6.7 | 7 |
| 2023 | Bryce Young, Car. | 39 | 253 | 6.5 | 0 |
| 2019 | Daniel Jones, NYG | 45 | 279 | 6.2 | 2 |
| 2017 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 41 | 248 | 6.0 | 2 |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray, Ari. | 93 | 544 | 5.8 | 4 |
| 2021 | Justin Fields, Chi. | 72 | 420 | 5.8 | 2 |
| 2020 | Jalen Hurts, Phil. | 63 | 354 | 5.6 | 3 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton, Car. | 126 | 706 | 5.6 | 14 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer, Cle. | 77 | 419 | 5.4 | 5 |
| 2009 | Josh Freeman, T.B. | 30 | 161 | 5.4 | 0 |
| 2010 | Tim Tebow, Den. | 43 | 227 | 5.3 | 6 |
| 2012 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 94 | 489 | 5.2 | 4 |
| 2019 | Gardner Minshew, Jac. | 67 | 344 | 5.1 | 0 |
| 2013 | Geno Smith, NYJ | 72 | 366 | 5.1 | 6 |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 57 | 282 | 4.9 | 6 |
| 2002 | David Carr, Hou. | 59 | 282 | 4.8 | 3 |
| 2018 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 147 | 695 | 4.7 | 5 |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence, Jac. | 73 | 334 | 4.6 | 2 |
| 2014 | Teddy Bridgewater, Min. | 47 | 209 | 4.4 | 1 |
| 2021 | Trey Lance, S.F. | 38 | 168 | 4.4 | 1 |
| 2022 | Kenny Pickett, Pitt. | 55 | 237 | 4.3 | 3 |
| 2012 | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 49 | 211 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2023 | C.J. Stroud, Hou. | 39 | 167 | 4.3 | 3 |
| 2020 | Justin Herbert, LAC | 55 | 234 | 4.3 | 5 |
| 2012 | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 62 | 255 | 4.1 | 5 |
| 2011 | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 37 | 152 | 4.1 | 1 |
—Ian Allan