Tom Brady had already told the Carolina Panthers that they were making a mistake in playing Bryce Young so early in his career, believing quarterbacks should be slowly introduced to starting - as he and Patrick Mahomes both had.
Young had struggled in his rookie season, but was benched early in his second year before coming back just over a month later and looking like the player who the Panthers had hoped they'd drafted with the first overall pick in 2023 - impressing Mahomes in a recent game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Over the last two years, six quarterbacks have started as rookies with nine playing meaningful minutes in their first season in the NFL, the majority of which going through difficult times - with some even picking up bad tendencies.
That's something that Brady disagrees with, knowing the benefits of quarterbacks sitting behind a veteran while having time to fully adapt to NFL offenses.
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith prior to the season beginning, Brady had said: "I think it's just a tragedy that we're forcing these rookies to play early. But the reality is the only reason why they are is because we've dumbed the game down, which has allowed them to play. It used to be thought of at a higher level."
He also stated that he feels college teams are not aiding quarterback's in preparing for the NFL, with many still deploying quarterback-friendly systems that are not translatable for NFL play. In some college systems, quarterback's work in designed offenses, already knowing where they're going to throw the ball without looking at the defense - differing to the NFL where the quarterback makes a decision off-the-back of deciphering the defense scheme in front of him.
Brady said: "There used to be college programs. Now there are college teams... You're no longer learning a program, you're learning a playbook. And the program is ultimately, like at Michigan for me, that is a pro-style program.
"For five years I got to learn how to drop back pass, to read defenses, to read coverages, to be coached. I had to learn from being seventh quarterback on the depth chart to moving up to third to ultimately being the starter. I had to learn all those things in college. That was development. Then I went to New England and I was developed by Coach Belichick and the offensive staff there. I didn't start my first year."
Young has thrown three touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games, despite playing in a struggling offense with the Panthers - having the worst record in the NFL. The former Heisman Trophy winner now looks destined to be the Panthers' long-term quarterback, with reports recently emerging that the organization will not consider a quarterback in the upcoming draft.
