Jan. 20, 2026, 2:14 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Bryce Young has drawn another comparison to fellow quarterback and University of Alabama alum Tua Tagovailoa. But this connection, at least for the Carolina Panthers<\/a>, isn’t exactly a great one.<\/p>\n Joe Person of The Athletic, in a new article<\/a> from Tuesday, dove into the fluid contract situation between the Panthers and the former No. 1 overall pick. Person notes the opinion of an anonymous NFL executive, who believes Young’s future could mirror what’s currently going on in South Beach.<\/p>\n Here’s the quote:<\/p>\n \u201cTua Tagovailoa had his most success when they were paying him on his rookie deal because you can put more pieces around him. But once they made that move to pay him 50-something million dollars, now you start to lose other pieces. And now he\u2019s got to perform even higher because he\u2019s playing with less talent. And he needs all those pieces to win with because you don\u2019t win because of him,\u201d said the official, who was granted anonymity so he could speak openly on the topic.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd at this point, I see Bryce Young the same way. If they pay him let\u2019s say $50 million, it wouldn\u2019t hurt them instantly. But over time (it would).\u201d<\/p>\n In an unsurprising bit of news from last week, Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan told reporters that the organization plans on exercising<\/a> Young’s fifth-year option later this spring. The real uncertainty lies in the team’s willingness, or lack thereof, to sign Young to a long-term extension.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n Since inking Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million pact in the summer of 2024, the Miami Dolphins<\/a> have gone a disappointing 15-19. Tagovailoa\u2014who was benched for rookie Quinn Ewers at the end of the season\u2014passed for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions over 14 games in 2025.<\/p>\n Young\u2014in leading the Panthers to their first playoff berth since 2017\u2014is coming off career-highs in completion percentage (63.6), passing yards (3,011), passing touchdowns (23) and passer rating (87.8).<\/p>\n Once his option is picked up, Young will be under contract in Carolina through the 2027 campaign.<\/p>\n