Zoom out, and this is a symptom of the NFL’s financial system overall. Teams are encouraged to play rookie QBs early and often in the hopes of contending before a massive QB extension kicks in and makes it harder to build an elite team. Sometimes this works out (see: Stroud, C.J., drafted one pick behind Young). Young is the floor here, a combination of rushed development, small stature and front-office instability.

If Young, 23, never starts another game for the Panthers, it is one of the largest organizational failures in NFL history. Panthers coach Dave Canales says Young can still be a franchise quarterback, but I doubt that’s anytime soon.

I am morbidly fascinated to see if Young’s fall impacts how teams treat rookie QBs going forward. Yes, every set of circumstances is different, but take note of New England having yet to play Drake Maye. This year’s No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams, is struggling in Chicago, for what it's worth.