Panthers' David Moore Doesn't Hold Back While Praising Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers WR David Moore is seeing a different Bryce Young this season, both in his play and his mentality. 

"You actually can tell he's a lot more confident; you could tell by the way he just approaches everything," Moore said. "He's really growing into himself. You get to a point where you know your receivers, you know what the coaches are expecting, and then you get to a point where you are expecting something of yourself, which is where I kind of think he's at now.

"He expects himself to go out there and ball like he's been doing. And then with the people that he has behind him and beside him, it's kind of like it just makes it that easier, and it just helps him kind of just go out there, really play free. He's really having fun. You can tell he's smiling all over the place; he's calling stuff out himself, and you know, it's just great to see.

"He's just bringing his energy; it's just fun, you know what I mean? It's kind of like he's a kid again. That's the football that you want to play. Not everything's so serious, so you know what I mean, yeah, he's, it's kind of, I'm, I'm sure he would say his time now is much more relaxing, much more just smooth than previous years, and he deserves that for sure."

How elite has Young been thus far this season? He's on the same list as Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

Young, Rodgers, Manning and Brees are the only quarterbacks in NFL history with 280-plus passing yards and one passing touchdown in the first five games of a season since 2011. Rodgers did it in 2011 and Manning and Brees did it in 2013. 

Young has 11 passing touchdowns in five games this season. That is a new Panthers franchise record. Not even Cam Newton did that during his MVP season. 

The Panthers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6 to improve to 3-2 this season. Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns to set Carolina's passing touchdown record through five games. 

Young is putting up MVP numbers this season. He has 1,549 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 25 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. The 25-year-old has only two interceptions. 

The Panthers lost to the Chicago Bears in Week 1, defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 3, beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 4 and beat the Eagles in Week 6. 

Young is making $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million. Carolina picked it up in the offseason.

The Panthers didn't sign Young to an extension, so he has to play well again this season to earn one next offseason, and so far, he's setting himself up for a substantial payday. 

Young led the Panthers to the playoffs last season, where Carolina lost to the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game at home. It's been impressive to watch Young's turnaround in Carolina. Remember, Young was benched for Andy Dalton in 2024. When that happened, many people thought Young's days in Carolina were over. 

One reason Young is posting robust numbers is WR Tetairoa McMillan. The 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year has 32 catches for 471 yards and two touchdowns in five games.   

With Young and McMillan leading the way, the Panthers are averaging 29.2 points per game. That's good for fourth in the NFL. 

Carolina faces the 1-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week. Young enters that game with 9,840 career passing yards and 60 career touchdown passes. His starting record with the Panthers is 17-32-0.

As long as Young continues to play well and the Panthers make the playoffs again, Young will get an extension after this season. It took a while, but Young looks like a franchise quarterback.

Young leads the NFL in passing yards per game at 309.8. Newton won the 2025 MVP award with the Panthers. It will be fascinating to see if Young can win the award this season.

It would be one of the top stories in NFL history to see a player get benched and win the MVP award a few years later.