Is Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales making the right move here?
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced significant news at the NFL Combine.
Canales announced that OC Brad Idzik will call offensive plays in 2026.
Idzik will be tasked with the continued development of QB Bryce Young, who finished the 2025 season 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 was the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
During his end-of-the-season press conference, Panthers President of Football Operations and General Manager Dan Morgan was asked to speak about Young's 2025 campaign. Morgan said he liked what he saw from Young.
"I would say if you look at Bryce on a day-to-day basis out there, his work ethic, his ability to command the huddle out there, take control of the line of scrimmage, make the proper checks, make the proper protection calls, and then really having that translate into Sunday or Saturday or whenever we play," Morgan said.
"I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year. Really just kind of like coming into his own and getting better every week. You know, just attacking every day. That's really all you can ask for just from any player, let alone your quarterback."
The Panthers have already picked up the fifth-year option on Young's contract. It will be fascinating to see if Carolina signs Young to an extension this offseason.
Idzik and Young have one of the best WRs to work with in Tetairoa McMillan, who won the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
McMillan led all rookies this season in receiving yards (1,014), receiving yards per game (59.6) and touchdown receptions (seven) and ranked third in receptions (70). He broke the Panthers franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie.
McMillan caught 70 balls this season for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.
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