The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich on Monday, but the organization remain all-in on quarterback Bryce Young.
Owner David Tepper said on Tuesday the club remains behind the No. 1 overall pick despite the rookie's struggles this season.
"We are totally confident in that pick," Tepper told reporters.
Tepper noted that he believes it was a unanimous decision by the coaches and scouts to make Young the No. 1 pick at the time, and he only voiced his opinion at the end of the process.
The owner added that the Panthers initially expected to trade to the No. 2 pick and were comfortable taking C.J. Stroud, who has shined as a rookie in Houston, but ultimately moved to No. 1 to snag Young.
"Now, it's been reported, and we've talked about it, originally, we were going to go with the No. 2 pick, and we thought we'd get C.J. because we thought the Texans were going to pick Bryce," Tepper told reporters when asked about reports that he tipped the scales in favor of drafting Young. "Listen, we preferred Bryce. He was our No. 1 pick."
Young has struggled in his first 10 starts, completing 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,877 yards with nine TDs and eight interceptions. The QB ranks 31st in sacks taken (40), 30th in passing yards per game (187.7) and passer rating (74.9), and 26th in TD-INT ratio.
With poor surrounding talent, including a sieve offensive line and receivers who don't separate, Young is in a difficult situation. However, the lack of development and picking up bad habits he didn't show at Alabama ultimately led to Reich's dismissal. The sensational play of Stroud while Young struggles has hovered over the entire season in Carolina.
Firing the head coach after 11 games underscores the idea that the Panthers still
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