Calls Mount For Top Quarterbacks To Boycott One NFL Team

It has been an eventful first couple of weeks in the 2024 NFL season, and one team is already facing calls for top quarterback prospects to boycott them in the future.

It’s uncommon to see a team consistently get the quarterback position wrong. At some point, fans would imagine their favorite team would eventually get it right.

That’s exactly how Carolina Panthers fans feel right now. Since owner David Tepper purchased the team in 2018 for approximately $2.275 billion, the Panthers have had a new starting quarterback to begin every season except in 2018 and 2024.

Additionally, the organization is now on its fourth full-time head coach in Tepper’s tenure.

Tepper has long been known for his significant influence on team decisions. His recent call to bench second-year starter and former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young has left fans tired of him.

Frank Reich, Carolina’s coach in 2023, made it known that he and his coaching staff wanted to draft C.J. Stroud over Bryce Young with the top pick.

Tepper made the final decision and went with Young. Since then, Stroud has led the Houston Texans to the playoffs and won the AP 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

On the other hand, Young had an abysmal rookie season, and the Panthers finished with a 2-15 record.

Fast forward to 2024, and Tepper moved on from Reich in just a year and hired Dave Canales to replace him. It has been two games, and he already influenced Canales to bench Young for Andy Dalton.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper stands on the field.

© Jeremy Brevard-Imagn Images

General managers typically want to surround younger quarterbacks with the right resources to help them succeed. The situation with Young was certainly not handled that way with Tepper involved.

In an article for NBC Sports’ “Pro Football Talk,” Mike Florio suggested that the next quarterback draft class should come together and refuse to play for Tepper.

If the Panthers draft a quarterback, that quarterback can just refuse to sign the contract and re-enter next year’s draft.

Florio cited NIL money as a big factor in why this would work for draft prospects. Top quarterbacks are already getting paid millions in school. They “have more power than ever before,” he wrote.

Several fans agreed with Florio’s call and supported the idea, adding more pressure on Tepper and the Panthers.

“I agree, the next QB class shouldn’t play for him,” one wrote. “I don’t want to take a QB in this draft, it’s not a good class.”

“I totally agree as a Panthers fan,” another added.

A commenter added, “As a fan and ticket holder I agree. Why ruin your career by playing here? Tepper must go.”

“It would be hysterical if the top QB’s avoided Tepper like the plague,” a social media user noted.

Another poster shared, “He should be forced to sell the team.”

An NFL fan was also critical of Tepper, saying, “100% agree. These types of owners ruin careers.”

“He needs to sell and move on to another adventure,” a seventh supporter shared.

The Dalton-led Panthers will be in Las Vegas to take on the Raiders in Week 3.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.