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Panthers great Greg Olsen explains NFL quarterback development problem

Umito November 2, 2024

At least the Carolina Panthers are not alone when it comes to failing to develop their potential young franchise quarterbacks. Across the league, we’ve seen a trend where teams bench young starters as soon as they struggle. Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson are just a few recent examples of teams giving up on their QB growth far too soon.

An ESPN analyst recently compiled a list of young NFL quarterbacks who have been benched and it went viral. Here’s a look at the QBs who have succeeded over the past two seasons despite having a ton of talent – at least in most cases.

Anthony Richardson is 22 years old. On the bench.
Bryce Young is 23 years old. On the bench.
Trey Lance is 24 years old. On the bench.
Justin Fields is 25 years old. On the bench.
Will Levis is 25 years old. On the bench.
Zach Wilson is 25 years old. On the bench.
Mac Jones is 26 years old. On the bench.
Kenny Pickett is 26 years old. On the bench.

The NFL has a QB development problem.

– Sam Block (@theblockspot) October 29, 2024

So what’s the problem? Let’s listen to the smartest footballer we can think of and get his opinion. Here’s former Carolina tight end Greg Olsen explaining why quarterbacks aren’t ready for the NFL when they arrive and how teams aren’t helping.

“There’s no doubt we have a QB problem in the NFL.”

Are more and more quarterbacks today doomed to failure? Greg Olsen details the developmental issues he noticed in this position.@ryenarussillo @gregolsen88 pic.twitter.com/7RyscY9HPl

– The ringer (@ringer) November 1, 2024

It’s unfortunate, but it’s also unlikely to go away anytime soon. To get around this problem, a growing number of teams have adopted the strategy of buying quarterbacks who had already been written off by other teams cheaply and hoping to profit with a surprise upgrade. In this mold, the Seattle Seahawks found success with Geno Smith, as did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Baker Mayfield and the Minnesota Vikings with Sam Darnold, to name a few.

If the Panthers want to give up on Bryce Young (It certainly seems to be heading in that direction.), that might be a better route than trying to land another QB1 with their first draft pick in 2025. History says this franchise doesn’t have the patience to develop a young QB and they don’t have not the supporting cast in place to allow a unicorn like Jayden Daniels or CJ Stroud to arrive and thrive in the right way.

Potential targets who could fit the idea include all of the quarterbacks listed above as well as Sam Howell, Gardner Minshew and Drew Lock.

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