Does Bryce Young Have a Path to an MVP Season?

The Carolina Panthers are returning from their bye week, sitting at 2-2 and on top of the NFC South. The bye week couldn't have gone much better for the Panthers, seeing that Atlanta and New Orleans both lost.

As Carolina returns as a first place team, they have to be feeling good about where they are at in this point of the season. And while there's a long way to go this year, the Panthers have put themselves in a good spot.

A big reason for that is the play of quarterback Bryce Young.

In his fourth season, Young is enjoying a breakout campaign and is giving the team confidence that he is the future franchise quarterback. Carolina did pick up his fifth-year option this past April but have yet to make a decision on a long-term deal. I think it's safet to say which way they are likely leaning. 

While Young is having a nice season, one NFL analyst sees Young potentially having a path to an MVP. 

Jonathan Jones of The Athletic wrote on Young, the Panthers offense and coordinator Brad Idzik. He mentions how Idzik's playcalling has really helped Young play well this season, utilizing the weapons they have and putting the quarterback in a good situation. 

Part of what Idzik is doing is allowing Young to take shots down the field to playmakers like Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan. But he's also using the RPO to limit the pressure from other teams and get the ball out quickly. In his praise, Jones mentions how there's a path to an MVP by saying Idzik is providing him that foundation early on.

The thing for Young is that he will have to consistently play like this all season long. With no clear front runner right now, there is an opening for a darkhorse to emerge and take control of that. Could that be Young? 

As for Idzik's future, his success isn't going unnoticed. Not only is Jones pointing it out in his story, but I'm sure other NFL teams are monitoring it as well. He could be a hot coaching candidate for an opening this offseason and at the very least should get interviews.

If that happens, the Panthers will then have to figure out how to replace him and keep this offensive momentum going into next season. But for now, let's enjoy how he and Young have been establishing this connection on offense.