Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was named as a volatile veteran in the latest quarterback rankings.
The 2026 NFL season will be an important one for not only the Carolina Panthers but for quarterback Bryce Young. Fresh off a NFC South title in 2025, the Panthers need to take a step forward.
They finished at 8-9 in 2025 and won a tiebreaker to reach the playoffs. Now, they need to improve and show that they do belong as a top team in the NFC and a legit contender.
A big reason for why they have success or why they fail could be on the shoulders of quarterback Bryce Young. He had a solid season in 2025 but it wasn't enough to earn a long-term contract. After the Panthers picked up the quarterback's fifth-year option, Young now has to prove he is the franchise quarterback.
As we sit here in the 2026 offseason, awaiting training camp, Bryan DeArdo at CBS Sports has released his quarterback tiers. He has Young in the "Volatile Veteran" section along with Aaron Rodgers, CJ Stroud, and Geno Smith, among others. Here is what he had to say about Young and his placement in the tier.
Young should be lauded for the success he's had since being benched early in his second season. Questions still linger, however, about whether he is a legitimate franchise quarterback or a game manager.
Young being near the bottom of the list of tiers is a bit concerning for the Panthers. But on the other side of the argument, he hasn't shown enough consistency to move up in any tiers.
Even with a better campaign in year three for the quarterback, there's a lot of room for growth still. Young needs to be more consistent and in 2026, he will be tested with a first-place schedule.
Starting strong and keeping that consistency throughout the year will go a long ways for the quarterback. And then maybe we can see him. move up in the next tier for the 2027 offseason.
It would also relieve a little stress the Panthers may have in terms of a decision on whether or not to sign him to a long term deal.
