Stephen A. Smith calls Bryce Young a major draft bust: ‘JaMarcus Russell wasn’t even that bad’

Stephen A. Smith has seen just about enough of former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. He’s not alone with reports surfacing on Monday that the Carolina Panthers are benching the QB in favor of Andy Dalton.

Considering what Carolina gave up to acquire the pick to select Young, and his overall performance, it has been a terrible start for the former Heisman winner in the NFL. It’s also entering the realm of discussing Young as a true “bust” after he was benched.

“When he was picked No. 1 overall, I didn’t see a lot of people poo-pooing that to be fair to him, but it is has been an unmitigated disaster,” described Smith. on ESPN’s “First Take.”

Over the last 10 games, the Panthers have produced a lead for a total of 10 seconds. Smith called that stat “an atrocity,” while Young’s overall record of 2-16 is the worst in the NFL among QBs with at least 250 passing attempts.

After reading off a thorough laundry list of horrific stats, Smith compared Young’s performance to another former SEC quarterback, but for all the wrong reasons:

“Ladies and gentlemen, JaMarcus Russell wasn’t even that bad, and you know how I felt about Jamarcus Russell,” said Smith. “I mean, this is maybe the biggest bust in NFL History. These are the kinds of things that are starting to be brought up.”

Stephen A. Smith rolls out the brutal statistics of the Bryce Young era in Carolina before calling him "maybe the biggest bust in NFL history."

"Ladies and gentlemen, JaMarcus Russell wasn't even that bad." pic.twitter.com/b0JA7NHVgk

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 17, 2024

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.