The Carolina Panthers notched their signature win of the Dave Canales era in Week 13 with an upset of the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers were coming off a tough loss to the 49ers and were set up to fall to the scorching-hot Rams. They didn’t, and pulled off the victory as they head into their bye week, sitting 0.5 games behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South. Bryce Young was great and has shown flashes throughout the 2025 season.
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NFL Legend Backs Bryce Young for the Future
One NFL legend thinks they should consider locking him up sooner rather than later.
Young has had an up-and-down season, but there have been improvements that weren’t previously evident.
NFL legend Chad Ochocinco is ready for the Panthers to lock him up and give him an extension.
“I would tie him up long term,” said Ochocinco.
Ochocinco and former NFL player Ryan Clark spent time discussing whether the Panthers should pick up Young’s fifth-year option. Both believed that the Panthers should give Young his fifth-year, and Ochocinco took it a step further by suggesting an extension.
“I would tie him up long term”
@OchoCinco and @RealRClark25 both want to see the Panthers locking up Bryce Young for the future 🔒 pic.twitter.com/wmiGW8qVWQ
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) December 4, 2025
The Panthers last made the playoffs in the 2017 season with Cam Newton at the helm. Since then, they haven’t found an answer at quarterback, and Young has been their best option.
Ochocinco says that the Panthers would be silly to move off of Young in today’s NFL landscape, where many teams are struggling to find their answer at quarterback.
Ochocinco praised Young’s ability to perform when it matters. Even though his stat lines haven’t always been the prettiest, although there have been a few great ones, the Panthers are 7-6 with a chance to win the division for the first time in years. They have the Buccaneers twice in their next four games. If Young and the Panthers can win those, they should be in the playoffs with one more win.
“Young has been very clutch. And he’s the youngest player in NFL history right now with 11 game winning drives in the fourth quarter,” said Ochocinco.
If you need a game-winning drive, fans would turn to Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and players like that. But why not Bryce Young? The statistics are in Young’s corner and he’s produced in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance. He’s taking steps forward, but there are still some areas for improvement in his game.
He is the 29th-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s QB Impact score with a grade of 68.5. The Panthers will have a decision to make on Young’s future as the team’s franchise guy. But Ochocinco is firmly in Young’s corner and wants to see Carolina lock him up and not mess around trying to risk an upgrade.