CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Brandt Tilis was in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes made it pretty clear early on he was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks and the Chiefs would have to pay him as such.

After Mahomes led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in his second season in 2018 (and first as a starter), Tilis said they knew they had their franchise QB. After Mahomes won the MVP and guided Kansas City to a Super Bowl victory over San Francisco the following season, the Chiefs signed him to a 10-year, $450 million extension in the summer of 2020 that was one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history.

The situation with Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is a little different. Benched two games into his second season, Young finished 2024 on a positive note to receive a vote of confidence from coach Dave Canales after a Week 18 win at Atlanta and create some buzz around the Panthers entering Young’s third season.

While the Panthers like the direction they’re headed with Young, Tilis didn’t want to say too much Wednesday when asked how early he would consider a second contract for a QB who could be the long-term answer for a franchise.

“I’ve only done it with Pat Mahomes in Kansas City. And it was a little easier because after Pat’s second year, Pat made it to the AFC Championship Game. We had something good going. We kind of knew,” said Tilis, the Panthers’ executive VP of football operations.

Tilis compared Young’s contract situation to that of left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2022. The Panthers have had extension talks with Ekwonu’s agent, but don’t necessarily feel in a rush to get something done immediately after picking up his fifth-year option for 2026.

“Bryce is an ascending player. So I don’t want to sit here and make any kind of promises, any kind of statements about what we’re thinking about for Bryce’s contract or anything like that,” Tilis said of the No. 1 pick from 2023. “And Bryce would probably be the first to tell you — Bryce needs to focus on football and being the best version of himself, and the contract stuff will get figured out.”

Tilis addressed the media Wednesday immediately after veteran offensive tackle Taylor Moton got choked up talking about the possibility that this could be his final season with the Panthers. Moton is entering the final year of his contract, with a $31.3 million cap hit that is the team’s largest.

Taylor Moton gets emotional talking about the possibility that this could be his last year with the Panthers. The city and team mean a lot to the 2017 draft pick. pic.twitter.com/ST7cFIx9v4

— Joe Person (@josephperson) July 30, 2025

“I try not to think about it. I’ve had some of my best years here in Carolina,” said Moton, whose 120-game, consecutive starts streak — the longest by a position player in team history — ended last fall with a triceps injury.

“Being a Panther means a lot to me. It’s crazy. You don’t know (the future),” Moton added. “Obviously I want the years to continue. But if it’s my last year, I want it to be my best year. I want it to be the offensive line’s best year, the offensive unit’s last year, the team’s best year. Do whatever I can to help this be our best yet. I’m a little emotional about it.”

After seeing Moton’s emotions, Tilis said that’s the hard part of the business.

“Somebody pours their whole life into this like Taylor has and he’s faced with potentially going to a new place next year,” said Tilis, who spent 14 years in Kansas City. “But at the same time we are going to make the best decision for the organization. And if that means keeping Taylor here, then that’s great. If those two things align, we are open to it.

“Not gonna sit here and say we’re definitely not going to do it or we definitely are. Whatever makes the best sense for the Panthers, we’ll do.”

A few observations from Wednesday’s full-pads practice:

Tetairoa McMillan’s best day of camp

McMillan, the No. 8 pick from Arizona, bounced back from a dropped pass to make several nice catches, including a one-handed snag on a fade from Young in team drills. McMillan also stretched out parallel to the ground to pull in another pass. Several of the Panthers’ bigger, more physical cornerbacks have challenged McMillan with press coverage at camp, and Canales has liked his response.

“He’s had some pretty bad plays throughout camp and he’s had some excellent plays. He’s teaching me stuff about him that I don’t know, just looking at his character,” Canales said. “When guys bounce back quickly it speaks to their confidence. They know they’re good. ‘I’ll be good again.’ And that’s really powerful self-talk.”

We don’t know how he did it pic.twitter.com/DQNIjjXbSc

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 30, 2025

Unnecessary celebrations?

Several players punctuated nice plays with celebratory exclamation points, starting with Jaycee Horn punting the ball after an interception. Likely triggered by Horn’s actions, a couple of offensive players then did their own celebrations: Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders spun the ball in front of the defensive sideline after catching a touchdown pass in red zone work, and running back Chuba Hubbard also booted the ball a la Horn after a short TD run.

Canales was a bit conflicted over how he should feel.

“These are penalties. We want to be a smart football team. Can’t have those things. Let a dominant play be dominant. Let it speak for itself. So I addressed those things,” he said. “But I also kinda like it. I like the edge. I like the back and forth. But we’ve gotta be smart.”

Extra points

• Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald had his worst day of camp, going just 2-of-5 on field goals on the narrow goal posts. To be fair, all three of Fitzgerald’s misses would have been good on regulation posts.

• Safety Nick Scott popped pads with Young on a QB keeper at the goal line. Scott’s hit wasn’t malicious, and didn’t draw much of a reaction from Young’s offensive teammates other than a shove from Hubbard.

• The Panthers have stayed healthy through the first week-plus of camp, although three players sat out Wednesday — wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (hamstring), cornerback Mike Jackson (toe) and edge rusher Pat Jones (upper-respiratory illness).

(Photo: Scott Kinser / Imagn Images)