Carolina Panthers have decided to bench Bryce Young after he played 18 games for the team. This decision came after Young’s 18 starts with the Panthers, making it a significant move for the No. 1 overall pick. The quick benching is not unprecedented in NFL history, as seen in cases like John Elway being replaced by Steve DeBerg in his first two starts for the Denver Broncos in 1983 before eventually returning to lead the team to Super Bowl victories.
A total of 36 quarterbacks have been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, with 28 of them chosen during the Super Bowl era. Among these top draft picks are notable names like Terry Bradshaw, who was benched early in his career in 1970 but went on to win four Super Bowl titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers and earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Troy Aikman, drafted first by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, also faced challenges early in his career, including being benched in favor of Steve Beuerlein during his rookie season. Despite this setback, Aikman bounced back to lead the Cowboys to multiple Super Bowl victories.
Jameis Winston, picked first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, faced a benching in his fourth season in 2018 but later reclaimed his starting role before moving on to the New Orleans Saints. Another example is JaMarcus Russell, who struggled with the Oakland Raiders after being drafted first overall in 2007 and was eventually permanently benched in 2009.
Tim Couch, chosen by the Cleveland Browns as the top pick in 1999, had a turbulent career that included being benched in 2003 for Kelly Holcomb. Despite challenges, Couch was able to lead the Browns to a playoff appearance.
These examples show the ups and downs that quarterbacks drafted first overall can experience in the NFL, with some facing early benchings but later finding success, while others struggle to maintain their starting roles.
