The pressure is only mounting for Bryce Young, the second-year signal caller for the Carolina Panthers.
After a disastrous rookie season, the Panthers cleaned house and focused on acquiring the players that will help make his life easier moving forward.
It's clear that for the Panthers, year two of the Young experiment is a big one. And NFL.com's Bucky Brooks labeled the 22-year-old as a breakout candidate moving forward.
"A disappointing rookie season spurred a mass exodus from Young's bandwagon, but I believe last year's No. 1 overall pick can bounce back under new head coach Dave Canales," Brooks writes.
"The quarterback guru just helped Baker Mayfield resurrect his career in Tampa; now Canales can perform his magic in another NFC South city, helping Young regain his swagger in Charlotte. As the coach reshapes the Panthers' offense to feature more quarterback-friendly concepts with better weaponry at Young's disposal, the talented gunslinger could re-emerge as the blue-chip player who won a Heisman Trophy at Alabama and entered the 2023 NFL Draft as the belle of the ball."
Young has no excuse not to play up to par in the 2024 season. The Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson, who is a former 1,000-yard pass-catcher.
Additionally, Carolina added wide receiver Xavier Legette, a college standout with all the tools to be an elite wide receiver in the league.
Then Adam Thielen is also returning. Thielen was one of Young's preferred targets during his rookie season.
There is no hiding the pressure on Young's shoulders heading into year two. However, other quarterbacks have struggled through a poor rookie season and found their footing. Most recently, Trevor Lawrence, with the Jacksonville Jaguars, did the same.
With the right weapons, additions to the offensive line, and a quarterback-whispering head coach, Young's breakout season is already in the works.
