Shortly after the Carolina Panthers’ season came to an end via a 34-31 wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan confirmed that he intends to pick up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to the contract for quarterback Bryce Young. 

The Panthers could lock Young down for beyond the next two seasons by signing him to a multi-year extension this spring or summer. Recently, Joseph Person of The Athletic spoke with an unnamed veteran personnel executive from another team who warned the Panthers about going all-in on Young.

Is Bryce Young destined to follow in the footsteps of Tua Tagovailoa?

“Tua Tagovailoa had his most success when [the Miami Dolphins] were paying him on his rookie deal because you can put more pieces around him,” the official told Person. “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. And at this point, I see Bryce Young the same way. If they pay him, let’s say $50M, it wouldn’t hurt them instantly. But over time (it would).”

The executive was referencing how the Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4M contract extension in the summer of 2024. Miami failed to qualify for the playoffs over the following two seasons, and the club recently fired head coach Mike McDaniel. Additionally, the Dolphins are widely expected to part ways with Tagovailoa before the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway. 

Kurt Warner shares how Bryce Young could improve

According to Pro Football Reference stats, Young finished this past regular season ranked 27th in the NFL among qualified players with a 47.8 adjusted QBR and tied for 29th with an 87.8 passer rating. Such numbers don’t scream “franchise quarterback” to an outside observer. That said, Hall of Famer and current NFL analyst Kurt Warner spoke with Person about how the undersized Young could improve. 

“When you watch Bryce, his feet are together. Sometimes they’re sideways,” Warner explained. “He’s kind of bouncing up in the air and trying to feel it. I don’t know if some of that has to do with his height and size. The point being is so now when he decides to throw, he’s gotta either get into position or he’s gotta try to create power from out of position. And when you’re already limited somewhat physically, you have some balls that hang on you, that don’t get there. Or you’re a little bit late on the throw because you weren’t quite ready to throw it, and you’re not ripping it 100 miles an hour.”

There’s no indication the Panthers will move on from Young before training camp gets underway. However, Carolina could punt a decision about his long-term future down the road to next year. 

It appears some noteworthy members of the NFL community would advise Morgan to wait before making a decision that could negatively impact the Panthers for years to come.