Two years after selecting Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick, the Carolina Panthers have yet to find success. Now, following another disappointing year, the quarterback has made a tough admission ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
In 2023, the Panthers made a bold trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire the first overall pick. With it, the NFC South team selected Bryce Young, who was widely regarded as the top prospect in his class.
Unfortunately, Young’s tenure with the Panthers has been rocky. The quarterback has not delivered the results expected of a No. 1 pick, and frustration among fans has started to grow.
Bryce Young sends message to Panthers fans ahead of the 2025 season
When the Panthers drafted Bryce Young at No. 1 in 2023, expectations were sky-high. The former Alabama star was seen as a potential franchise quarterback, but his first two seasons have fallen short of that promise.
In his second NFL season, Young was even benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. Many believed this would mark the beginning of the end for him in Carolina, but he bounced back and finished the season strong.
Upon returning to the field, Young showed flashes of the talent that made him a top pick. While mistakes were still present and wins were scarce, his improved play reignited hope among the fanbase—and now he’s determined not to let them down.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Panthers have made key changes to support Young’s development. The quarterback knows the pressure is on after a promising finish to last year and is ready to rise to the occasion.
“For me, it all resets year by year,” Young said, via the team’s website. “We’re able to finish on a strong note, which is great, but we’re starting next year 0-0, and it doesn’t carry over. We understand that we have to build off of that stuff; we’re not just entitled to it. So, for me, I want to make sure that I’m working just as hard, if not harder, in the offseason, making sure that I have good habits, be as consistent as possible to do all the little things, and we all have that mindset which I’m grateful to be a part of a team like that.”
What is Bryce Young’s contract with the Panthers?
During the 2024 season, trade rumors surrounded Bryce Young. The idea wasn’t far-fetched, as his rookie contract makes him an affordable option for other teams.
Young signed a four-year, $37.9 million deal upon entering the league. His contract carries an average annual salary of $9.4 million—still considered a bargain if he can become the star the Panthers hoped for.