I recognize we are not in a great situation. Probably the worst in the league. I can acknowledge that we will continue to be shit for another couple seasons. But I digress,

Is Bryce Young the guy? I don’t know. And it doesn’t really matter.

The fact is I can respect that our FO shot their shot and went all in on a QB. Everyone can agree that a team will never win the Super Bowl (most likely) without a franchise QB. I’ve always supported the strategy of trading up for your guy. It’s worth a damn shot. If Bryce Young ends up being a franchise QB, is there really a situation where any trade is bad?

The good thing is that level of success can change drastically in the NFL. Give us 2 or 3 years and we’re a completely different team. Hell, the 49ers traded up for a bust in Trey Lance in 2021 and are now a top 3 team in the NFL in 2023.

I can acknowledge that teams can stay shitty/mediocre for a long time, but some can be consistently competitive (eg. Steelers, Patriots). A lot depends on your HC/GM/Owner. Tepper is under a lot of heat right now, but the dude isn’t an idiot. He walks, talks, and shits just like the rest of us. He knows the Panthers have been shitty since he took over. Let him learn from his mistakes and grow as an owner.

In summary, it’ll be okay even if Bryce Young is the guy or not. We’ve got a few pieces to build around and a good amount of money to spend in free agency. We won’t be good next year—or probably the next—but the unpredictability of the NFL can give us hope that we will soon see the light once again.