The Carolina Panthers have not had much hope in recent years. However, Bryce Young’s improvement in the last month of the 2024 season gave fans a reason for optimism. Despite the flashes Young showed, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wants to see more from Young.
In Florio’s “Which quarterbacks are on the hot seat in 2025?” article, Florio lists Young among the quarterbacks with something to prove in 2025.
Young’s career prospects looked bleak at one point in 2024. Andy Dalton had taken over the starting role after a rough start to the season following Young’s disastrous rookie season in 2023. Young eventually got his starting spot back after an injury to Dalton, and Young looked like he used his time on the bench to become a changed man.
Continued Growth
Florio wants to see more of what made Young the number one overall pick in 2023, and for him to continue his development. Florio wrote, “In year three, he needs to continue the growth he showed late in the 2024 season.”
Bryce Young finished the 2024 season with seven touchdowns, zero turnovers, and a quarterback rating of over 100 in his final three games. Head coach Dave Canales has seen Young’s continued development in the offseason.
Speaking to The Athletic’s Joe Pearson, Canales is confident in Young’s growth.
“I think the pace of our offensive development, evolution is growing at the pace of Bryce,” Canales said. “And he’s showing such great mastery of what we’re doing that he’s allowing us to really push the envelope and do more things.”
The Panthers have also invested in their passing game through the draft, selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round to provide Young another weapon. All eyes will be on Young’s growth this season.
New Contract
2025 is also a pivotal season for Bryce Young. The Panthers will decide whether they view Young as their franchise quarterback. If Young plays well enough, but there are still questions, he could be a candidate for his fifth-year option to be picked up next year. If Young plays like the franchise quarterback the Panthers drafted him to be, he’ll be looking at the possibility of a $200 million deal.
CBS writer Tyler Sullivan has discussed the possibility of Young getting a Trevor Lawrence-like deal in his article about the top extension candidates on all 32 teams.
“The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will be eligible for an extension after this season. He’ll likely receive some sort of extension, but if he carries his momentum from the end of last season into the entirety of 2025, he could get a larger number than some may think,” Sullivan says. “For instance, fellow No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence lost 22 games over his first two seasons, just like Young has. Now, Lawrence is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, making $55 million per season. While Young may not reach that total, high enough to raise eyebrows.”
Next year is a make-or-break season for Young, like Florio predicted. If Young can continue to show the growth he did at the end of 2024, he has the potential to cash in big time.
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