The Carolina Panthers’ season concluded on Saturday, January 10, after a home Wild Card game loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the 34-31 loss, the Panthers organization remains optimistic about Bryce Young, who has shown progress each season during his three-year NFL career.
“Bryce did a great job this year, and I’m just really excited about moving forward and still developing chemistry with our receivers and just the pieces around him,” stated General Manager Dan Morgan during the Panthers’ season-ending news conference.
Young just finished his best season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, ending the season with an 8-9 record, leading the Panthers to their first playoff appearance since 2015 and an NFC South title. He also set career highs in completion percentage (63.6), passing yards (3,011) and touchdown passes (23) in 16 starts.
As is typical when a team’s season concludes, conversations about players’ futures begin, especially regarding the quarterback position. Young is still under a rookie contract as he prepares for his fourth year with the Panthers in 2026. The Panthers have further secured their quarterback for the 2027 season by picking up Young’s fifth-year option.
The option will pay the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft a guaranteed $26.5 million in 2027. According to reports, a long-term contract hasn’t been completely ruled out.
“We are still talking through the roster and where things look from a big picture view,” Morgan said. “That is still stuff that is up in the air that we are still working through at this point.”
When Young was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick, he was expected to be the Panthers’ franchise quarterback. As Young has shown progress every year, the future looks bright for the Panthers, who have been seeking for a solid quarterback to lead the organization.
Bryce Young’s Historic Comeback Victory Against the Falcons
The 448-yard performance is now the most in a game by a Panthers player in franchise history, surpassing Cam Newton’s 432 yard from 2011.
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