Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has received a $212 million comparison amid his contract situation.
The Carolina Panthers have decided to exercise Bryce Young's fifth-year option, keeping him under contract with the team through 2027. But will the Panthers offer the quarterback a long-term extension?
It doesn't seem incredibly likely at the moment given how inconsistent Young has been over the course of his first three seasons, but stranger things have happened.
On that note, an NFL executive thinks Carolina's current situation with Young looks awfully similar to what the Miami Dolphins had been experiencing with Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa had been a polarizing figure over his first four seasons, eventually landing a four-year, $212 million contract extension from the Dolphins. Two years later, the deal has come back to bite Miami.
The exec explained the biggest problem to Joseph Person of The Athletic.
“Tua Tagovailoa had his most success when they were paying him on his rookie deal because you can put more pieces around him," the exec said. "But once they made that move to pay him 50-something million dollars, now you start to lose other pieces. And now he’s got to perform even higher because he’s playing with less talent. And he needs all those pieces to win with because you don’t win because of him."
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.The exec added he feels the Panthers could be going down the same path with Young.
“And at this point, I see Bryce Young the same way," he said. "If they pay him let’s say $50 million, it wouldn’t hurt them instantly. But over time (it would).”
And here's the difference: Tagovailoa actually led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023. right before landing his extension. He also paced the league in passer rating the year prior.
Young has not come close to experiencing such success yet. Yes, he guided Carolina to the playoffs (on an 8-9 record, no less) this season, but his numbers were far less impressive than Tagovailoa's.
The former first-round pick threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 63.6 percent of his passes and posting an 87.8 passer rating in 2025. Those were certainly the best numbers of Young's career, but they were still a far cry from elite ... or worth $50 million annually.
Chances are, the Panthers will let Young play out 2026 and then make a decision on whether or not to extend him.
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