Joe Person: Panthers are NOT expected to extend Bryce Young before the 2026 season

[strato]

17 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

I'm barely clinging to Panthers right now, to be honest. I knew Bryce would get the 5th year option because he is a former #1 overall pick and hasn't been a complete bust.  It was clear to me management was going to give him more time.  However, unless he turns into some amazing QB this season, it will be time to move on.  With few exceptions, a NFL team cannot be a perennial contender with a JAG QB. 

All this to say next April if they aren't drafting his replacement in the first round, short of a breakout season, I might check out on being a Panthers fan for good (at least until Young finally moves on).  This owner may be a savant in hedge fund management, but is a moron when it comes to building a competitive NFL franchise.  Even if we miss the playoffs this year, Tepper may not allow Dan and Dave to move off of Bryce with that year left on his deal.  That will be the braking point for me.

This is a make or break year for Bryce and my fandom.

I know how you feel. I don’t know how I could manage to hang either if he doesn’t show a lot more and what comes from another bottom half of the league performance is they ties us to him again with another multi year commitment. 
 

 

 

[PanthersNCSU]

12 hours ago, electro's horse said:

bottom ten in 2025 was 6 wins. Panthers had a very fluky 8 wins. I’m sure you can think of 2 games at least the panthers could have easily lost.

Panthers avg point differential on the season was -4.

hard to think of a team that screams regression to the mean louder than Carolina. 

Homer in me still has hope, but yeah, Vegas has us pegged at 6.5 for a reason. IMO the worst thing for us going forward is 6 or 7 wins this year. 

If we win 8 or 9 and Bryce is eh at best...extension incoming. 

Either win 10+ and Bryce proves something, or slide into Top 5 range so we don't have to trade the farm for a rookie again. 

[Panthers Fan 69]

Most of the best QBs seem to come after pick 12. Panthers will have no problem getting the next franchise if Bryce sucks but the team still finishes 8-9 or something like that. 

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, Panthers Fan 69 said:

Most of the best QBs seem to come after pick 12. Panthers will have no problem getting the next franchise if Bryce sucks but the team still finishes 8-9 or something like that. 

Most of the "best" QBs come after that point because they are going to better teams.

That #1 pick comes with the knowledge you are walking into a trainwreck. You know, like we were. And even for transcendent QBs, it takes time, seasons, to get it back on track.

Tough job, but so many dollars. 

[Shotgun]

35 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Most of the "best" QBs come after that point because they are going to better teams.

That #1 pick comes with the knowledge you are walking into a trainwreck. You know, like we were. And even for transcendent QBs, it takes time, seasons, to get it back on track.

Tough job, but so many dollars. 

Also comparing the first 12 picks to the  rest of the draft is a silly comparison, 12 chances vs 245 chances to hit on a player. 

[Hugo]

15 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

We would've picked top 10 this year if Rico hadn't had that stretch where he caught fire.

And we probably would have win some more games if he didn't average 3 yards per carry for 6 of the 8 final games. Rico Dowdle was nothing but mid for us

Edited May 18 by Hugo

[The Third Reich]

Morgan basically told this to RIch Eisen.  If Rico had not stepped up in 2025...

[The Third Reich]

When I watched the Rich Eisen/Morgan interview, I expected Morgan to be positive, so I think he is saying this:  

Bryce has this year to prove that he is a starting qb in the NFL and can 

I think it is interesting that we dumped Andy and signed a developmental UDFA and a former first rounder who might be a late bloomer (I doubt it).  Morgan has to be aware that 2027's draft should be loaded at QB.  I mean, LOADED.  

If Bryce falls, this team probably drafts around #10 or so.  While I realize that some of these will drop off or lose their luster, some new faces will be added.  I think this draft class is going to be special, and any GM not satisfied with their QB play is not going to throw $$$ at mediocrity.  They will want to watch the college season for a while and see the talent, and I expect 5 or 6 to emerge as first rounders.  

If you are considering paying Bryce (mediocre and not elite) $35m, imagine how tempting it would be to pay a young gun with more upside $6m per season for 4 years.  Any smart GM knows this.  Paying Bryce now or even during the season is not smart.  

Take a look at this list, and imagine most will be better than they were in 2025.  Take LaNorris Sellers for example.  Mike Shula (remember him?) brought in a very complex, pro style offense that was not ideal for a dual threat qb.  Sellers had a few injuries.  I find the $$ the Panthers paid UDFA QB King to be interesting; he is a dual threat QB.  So if the Panthers decide to return to the Cam Newton days of QB play, a player like Sellers, Trinidad Chambliss, or even Arch Manning (watch his tape) might be someone they covet.  

[rebelrouser]

As much as I want us to draft a qb in '27, I am still worried many of the same people (minus Fitterer) would be making the decision. 

[fanpanther]

1 hour ago, Hugo said:

And we probably would have win some more games if he didn't average 3 yards per carry for 6 of the 8 final games. Rico Dowdle was nothing but mid for us

egh I feel rico did really well for the panthers he got injured and teams realized all the panthers had was the run game so they stacked the box and dared the panthers to throw which byoung did for a couple of games .  

[strato]

18 minutes ago, rebelrouser said:

As much as I want us to draft a qb in '27, I am still worried many of the same people (minus Fitterer) would be making the decision. 

Another way to look at that. If we go QB in 2027 it means those people admit they fix a bad job in 2023.  So maybe they won’t be so self assured

   

   

[SetfreexX]

4 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

Most of the "best" QBs come after that point because they are going to better teams.

That #1 pick comes with the knowledge you are walking into a trainwreck. You know, like we were. And even for transcendent QBs, it takes time, seasons, to get it back on track.

Tough job, but so many dollars. 

We were coming off 7 wins and traded up from 9. We weren't a train wreck while Wilks was the interim. 

[Khyber53]

9 minutes ago, SetfreexX said:

We were coming off 7 wins and traded up from 9. We weren't a train wreck while Wilks was the interim. 

Don't get me started. We should have stuck with Wilks. That was the first bit of spine I'd seen in the team in a very long time.

[CPF4LIFE]

19 hours ago, electro's horse said:

Playing for 2027. High draft pick, new coach and qb.

Bryce will do great on dancing with the stars. 

College football Analyst. Im sure of it.