After a resilient playoff run and a dominant training camp, the former top pick is poised to trade his comeback momentum into a massive long-term extension with the Carolina Panthers.
When the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young, was benched early in the 2024 season for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, it looked like the Carolina Panthers had made a disaster by trading a fortune to the Chicago Bears to land the former Alabama signal-caller.
Young eventually earned the starting job. He showed progress during the 2025 season, throwing for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the 8-9 Panthers to the playoffs after winning the abysmal NFC South.
Carolina chose to pick up Young's fifth-year option, but no pay day has been given to the quarterback, who must prove he deserves a mega-contract during the regular season.
Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer thinks Young has taken the next step this offseason, arguing that he's looking like a franchise quarterback.
"But I’m here to tell you, based on whatever institutional knowledge I’ve acquired from covering these Carolina Panthers for 32 straight seasons, that what Young is doing in practice right now in training camp is about to lead to a really good —and possibly great — season for him," Fowler wrote.
"And it will lead to a massive new contract, too."
Fowler projects Young to earn a $200 million contract if he plays in the regular season the way he has started training camp.
Panthers head coach Dave Caneles has noticed a change in Young.
“Bryce is continuing to just take the next steps,” Canales said. “What I see from Bryce right now is just ownership and mastery of the concepts.
"And now I just see the timing, the rhythm, and just the me-to-you factor with his guys, and watching him throw anticipatory balls to T-Mac, to Jalen (Coker), to David Moore, who showed up again with another touchdown.”
Of course, the Panthers won't be handing out a new deal based on what Young is showing early in training camp. Young will have to show what he's learned this offseason and apply it in the regular season when opponents are giving him a real test.
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic that Young has turned the corner.
