Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is in good company. He joined the ranks of Kyler Murray (2019), Joe Burrow (2020), and Trevor Lawrence (2021) as a number one overall QB pick in the NFL draft.
His rookie season with the NFL, however, wasn’t exactly a star performance. Even so, first-round QBs have a history of bouncing back after a slipshod rookie outing.
Could 2024-25 be the year for Bryce Young to bounce back? Let’s look at the situation, and see what NC online sportsbooks have to say about Bryce Young’s chances heading into 2024.
Comparing Bryce Young with last three #1 overall QB picks
The last three QBs drafted number one overall had high expectations to shoulder, and none had exemplary performances. Some would even say Burrow and Lawrence had lousy rookie outings. Here’s a closer look.
- Kyler Murray, 2019 #1 overall pick, Arizona Cardinals:
- Rookie year starting record: 5-10-1
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Joe Burrow, 2020 #1 overall pick, Cincinnati Bengals:
- Rookie year starting record: 2-7-1
- Tore left ACL and MCL in week 11, ending his season
- Trevor Lawrence, 2021 #1 overall pick, Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Rookie year starting record: 3-14
- Bryce Young, 2023 #1 overall pick, Carolina Panthers
- Rookie year starting record: 2-14
Looking at the numbers, nothing suggests that Bryce Young’s rookie campaign was any worse than the last three number one overall QB picks before him.
Many Panthers fans will likely point to the supporting cast around Young, though. While it may be the case that the other three quarterbacks had more weapons at their disposal, none clearly outshone Young in key offensive stats in their first seasons.
Murray, Burrow, and Lawrence bounced back
Murray’s, Burrow’s, and Lawrence’s sophomore seasons brought drastic improvements in overall stats.
Kyler Murray came back to throw for 3,971 yards and 26 TDs. He massively upped his running production with 819 rushing yards and a whopping 112 rushing TDs, and he made the Pro Bowl.
After suffering a season-ending injury in week 11, Burrow came back in 2021 with a vengeance, throwing for 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. He led the Bengals to a 2022 Super Bowl appearance, where they lost by a field goal to the LA Rams.
Lawrence added nearly 500 yards to his rookie passing total for 4,113 yards in his second year. He more than doubled his passing touchdowns with 25 in his sophomore outing. He had fewer interceptions, too, and proved an efficient running threat. Lawrence ran for 291 yards (fewer than in his rookie season) and nabbed five rushing TDs. He also made the Pro Bowl as a sophomore
After they get their sea legs, new QBs—particularly those with lots of promise as the number one draft pick—show massive improvement. With three recent examples showcasing an uptick in year-two production, Bryce Young could be in store for a bounce-back year with the Panthers.
What NC sportsbooks think about Bryce Young’s 2024 campaign
NC sportsbooks have a range of Pathers betting odds, including action on Bryce Young, across various stats.
If you think he will have a breakout second-year performance, it might be worth getting in on the action at North Carolina online betting sites.
FanDuel Sportsbook NC has Bryce Young’s passing TD line at 17.5 with -112 odds.
Young threw for 12 touchdowns in his rookie year, but an uptick this year could easily put him in over territory.
FanDuel has his passing yards line set for 3250.5 with -112 odds.
Young threw for 2,895 last season, so he’d need to up his game to hit the over at FanDuel. He has weapons in Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen.
Finally, FanDuel has a few spicier bets on Bryce Young, including:
- To throw 30+ passing touchdowns in the regular season: +700
- 5+ rushing touchdowns in the regular season: +300
Those are both a big stretch from his numbers last season, but the bets are there for the taking if you believe Bryce Young is about to turn the Panthers ship around this season.
Image Credit: Adrian Kraus / AP Images
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