Is Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young respected in NFL circles?
5 anonymous NFL figures gave their honest thoughts on Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young during a conversation with Mike Sando of The Athletic.
A panel of 50 voters voted on the top QBs for the 2026 season.
Young came in at No. 22.
“He made a huge jump in 2026,” said a coach whose team faced Carolina in the second half of the 2025 season. “His command, his confidence, his accuracy, the movement — he just seemed so much more confident as a player. It was an eye-opener for all of us to watch him perform. It reflected in their team.”
“He’s a 3 who is growing on me,” an offensive coach said. “His vision down the field allows him to throw it later in the down and create a little. He moves around just enough to get the ball out. He sees passing lanes well. He can throw with anticipation. But he is what he is physically. He looks like a high school kid out there.”
“He needs the athletes around him, and they’ve done a good job surrounding him,” a former GM said. “He doesn’t necessarily elevate them, but he puts them in a position to be successful. His anticipation is off the charts. And he is a better runner and athlete than people give him credit for.”
“I don’t know what they will pay him, but I think they will pay him, and I can’t wait,” a rival exec said. “If they are married to that, no problem.”
“He got better at the overall managing of the game,” an exec said. “The coach (Dave Canales) has been good for him. He has become more consistent. His talent level will never change. He will never get bigger. But I think he can play at a 3 level.”
Last season, Young finished with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
Young is set to make $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
The first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Young enters this season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
Carolina has a difficult 2026 schedule. They face the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
If Young plays well, he will get paid next offseason.
However, if Young struggles in 2026, he may not be on the Panthers in 2027.
