Panthers HC Dave Canales hints at adding more weapons for QB Bryce Young

[TheSpecialJuan]

Joe Person of The Athletic sat down with head coach Dave Canales at the NFL Annual League Meeting from Phoenix, Ariz. on Monday. Their one-on-one chat ventured into the outlook for Young, who Canales said the following of:

We're changing things in our offense to fit Bryce, and we're trying to bring players that will complement what Bryce does. It was something that Dan and I had talked about throughout really the last two years - Bryce's ability to perform in critical situations and in high-stakes situations. And feeling our responsibility to build a team that puts itself in those high-stakes moments where he can perform and come through. And he's shown that, whether it's my ability to be aggressive, going for it on fourth down because of him or having different moments come alive late in games for him to be able to take us down on drives, find wins, whatever that looked like. There's not a question of if, but how - how are we gonna build this forward knowing that Bryce is our quarterback?

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7159405/2026/03/31/carolina-panthers-bryce-young-dave-canales/

[TheSpecialJuan]

very good read from Joe

and notable that Canales says the Panthers want to bring in players "that will complement what Bryce does" - when their only WR/RB/TE addition has been John Metchie

expecting a top three round pick to be spent at one of those spots, if not 19 overall

https://x.com/joshnorris/status/2039019352565891224?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[TheSpecialJuan]

Two things: imo Canales and Bryce had a push and pull all year long. Canales wanting to play out of heavier 12 & 13 personel, while Bryce thriving out of more of a spread out hurry up kind of offense that allowed him to be creative

The turnaround in 2025 where Bryce had more big time throws than almost anyone in the league came out of Canales allowing Bryce to play out of empty more than any other team. My hope for Idzik is that he allows Bryce to play his style of football instead of trying to get to heavier personel most of the time

Btw, this is not a diss on Canales. I love Bryce, but his skillset is not primed for a "typical" run offense. If Bryce is going to thrive, the #Panthers need to build the offense around what he does well

In terms of who that playmaker is, my pick would be Makai Lemon. The matchup nightmare that he would out of the slot (as Jordan Reid said he's not just a slot guy but he is a menace out of the slot) would put so much pressure on opposing defenses
https://x.com/threesandtds24/status/2039055526542397578?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[strato]

At the same time there were comments about Bryce isn’t getting that extension unless he proves he can be good all the time. He is not consistent.  Or has yet to show he can be. 
 

Paraphrasing, but it goes to what I and a lot of us have been saying.  That floor has to come up, can’t have crap like Arizona and Miami and New Orleans and SF the Jets and 54 passing yards for an entire game, and the low 1st half numbers be the norm. Again. 

It is just a repackaging, if even that, of what we know they have been doing all along. Giving him every chance to succeed.

Sigh…. I hope they don’t spend yet another first round pick on a receiver.  I am fine with drafting a WR but damn, gotta have some limits.  

[Chief Keek]

Sounds like another year of Nick Scott starting and the defense getting torched. Their only hope now is Bryce finally turning the corner. 

Edited 59 minutes ago by Chief Keek

[DeAngelo Beason]

He's shown that his absolute best (minus the Atlanta anomalies) is an average game for any somewhat competent QB.  Bringing weapons in is a good thing either way, but I suspect (or perhaps hope) that after next season those weapons will be catching passes from a new QB.  

[Basbear]

Weeks ago I tried to warm the huddle that WR/slot/TE was in play for 19, mainly 19 since the number state its correct.

I mean Matt millen drafted a QB at #2 overall.

Then the next three he used on WRs.......

Odds have Panthers to copy this..... 

[AceMan]

3 minutes ago, Basbear said:

Weeks ago I tried to warm the huddle that WR/slot/TE was in play for 19, mainly 19 since the number state its correct.

I mean Matt millen drafted a QB at #2 overall.

Then the next three he used on WRs.......

Odds have Panthers to copy this..... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totally can see this happening, btw

[BEASTfromdaEAST]

Fug we need a weapon at QB not a pea shooter for crying out loud!!

[frankw]

I've long been expecting the possibility of TE or WR in round 1. It isn't illogical in itself by any means. The issue is this is year 4 and you have got to expect your quarterback who was outplayed by the Saints rookie second round pick last year to elevate those around him instead of it constantly needing to be the other way around just to occasionally reach the bar of serviceable starter. Making guys around you better is the mark of a #1 pick and always has been.

[Basbear]

10 minutes ago, AceMan said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totally can see this happening, btw

I feel the same pain, brother.

I didnt want this either, just its the Panthers MO....

 

I guess the best solution is for a top player to fall that's not a WR..... Like one of Dan's canes or DB.

 

 

[RJK]

I’d prefer a roster that doesn’t put the team in those situations but ok I guess

[KillerKat]

He already has more of an offense than Cam ever had.

Edited 26 minutes ago by KillerKat