Bryce Young still has the potential to become the Panthers’ long-term quarterback.

Bryce Young has transformed as a quarterback since reclaiming the starting role for the Carolina Panthers. After being benched earlier in the season, he bounced back with wins against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants and displayed promise in losses to the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Although Week 15 was a setback, marked by a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys where Young was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, it appears to be an outlier. His sack rate has significantly decreased, his intended air yards per attempt have risen by 0.8, and he’s resorting to throwaways much less often.

The Panthers have not provided an ideal environment for a young quarterback, but glimpses of Young’s potential remain. If Carolina can craft an offense that supports his development, he could still evolve into their franchise quarterback.

Former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera remains optimistic. Speaking to RG, Rivera praised Young’s progress:
“He’s playing with confidence, has a better grasp of the playbook, and is making quicker decisions. His release time is below the league average at about 2.85 seconds, helping him avoid sacks. These are all positives.”

Rivera also commended offensive coordinator Dave Canales for the bold move to bench Young earlier in the season. The Panthers have since emphasized the run game, giving Young more time in the pocket. Young has also excelled in play-action situations, averaging 7.40 yards per attempt last season, suggesting that more play-action calls could further unlock his potential.

With time to experiment in the remaining games, the Panthers have seen enough flashes of brilliance to believe Young could be their long-term solution at quarterback—if they create the right system around him.

 

 

 

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