After Two Up-and-down Nfl Seasons, Is A Former No. 1 Pick Primed For A Breakout?

Bryce Young entered nan NFL pinch awesome expectations. A Heisman Trophy-winning backmost astatine Alabama, he was selected No. 1 wide successful 2023 by nan Carolina Panthers based connected his throwing accuracy and calm demeanor successful nan pocket.

But his first 2 seasons were thing but smooth.

As a rookie, Young threw for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns but 10 interceptions and posted a 2-15 record. He was besides sacked 62 times, nan second-most successful nan NFL. The team’s mediocre capacity led to caput coach Frank Reich’s being fired 11 games into nan season.

After he threw 3 picks and zero scores complete nan first 2 weeks of nan 2024 season, he was benched for Andy Dalton, a seasoned who continued arsenic starter for nan adjacent six games but was sidelined aft a car mishap resulted successful a thumb injury.

Young, 24, stepped successful for Dalton up of nan Week 8 matchup pinch nan Denver Broncos and ne'er relinquished nan role, showing awesome signs of committedness nan remainder of nan way. That has led his teammates and convention analysts to judge he still has what it takes to lead an NFL franchise.

“A batch of awesome quarterbacks person been benched,” NBC’s Chris Simms said connected “Chris Simms Unbuttoned.” “Part of being an NFL backmost is getting knocked down and getting your ass backmost up and going, ‘You cognize what? I’m going to still support fighting and I’m going to show everybody that they’re wrong.’”

Young did that and more. Over his past 10 games successful 2024, he threw for 2,104 yards and 15 touchdowns, pinch only six interceptions, for a passer standing of 88.9. Carolina won only 4 of those matchups, but its violative stats were up crossed nan committee down nan stretch.

Young vanished nan play connected a precocious note, going 25-for-34 passing for 251 yards, 3 touchdowns and nary interceptions successful an overtime triumph against nan Atlanta Falcons.

“You saw a wholly different guy,” Simms said of Young’s play down nan stretch, noting his betterment successful decision-making and pouch presence. “You saw nan correct steps to beryllium excited for Bryce Young going into Year 3.”

That level of play besides caught nan oculus of Panthers tight extremity Ja’Tavion Sanders.

“Everybody decidedly sees nan change,” Sanders told NBC News. “One point I’ve learned from Bryce is not getting excessively precocious pinch nan highs aliases debased pinch nan lows. Attacking nan time nan aforesaid measurement each day.”

Sanders added that Young’s competitiveness has been evident successful training campy this summertime and that he has shown activity disconnected it.

“The measurement he carries himself arsenic a personification disconnected nan section — not moreover conscionable talking astir shot present — disconnected nan field, really he carries himself arsenic a person, arsenic a man. The power he brings erstwhile he walks into nan room.”

That power astir apt accrued aft nan 2025 NFL draft. The Panthers bolstered their discourtesy by selecting Arizona prima wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan astatine No. 8 overall. The 6-foot-4 McMillan has nan height, velocity and catching expertise to supply Young pinch different reliable limb successful nan discourtesy to spell on pinch seasoned receiver (and erstwhile All-Pro) Adam Thielen and 2024 first-round prime Xavier Legette.

The squad besides bolstered its defense by giving cornerback Jaycee Horn a four-year, $100 cardinal statement hold and signing information Tre’von Moehrig from nan Las Vegas Raiders.

The Panthers vanished 3rd successful nan NFC South and 4th nan erstwhile year. They dream different measurement is taken successful 2025, which mostly depends connected Young.

“I’m ace confident. That comes from this building,” Young said astatine a news conference during training camp. “Relying connected nan coaching unit and squad astir me, that’s really wherever I get my assurance from. I’m grateful to beryllium portion of nan organization.”