Bryce was neither Dave’s or Dan’s choice. Coming into the situation, both understood what the Panthers gave up to get him and, on a sense, were almost required to see if they could ever develop him into a quality starter. It is explicitly evident now that Bryce will never be that guy.
The hope is that Bryce’s inability to cement himself as the starter gives Dave and Dan the ammunition to go to Tepper and say, “Look, this guy is just not going to work out.” The fifth-year option is the best point in time at which to do this. It then gives this coach/GM tandem an opportunity to go get “their” guy.