As the sun rises on the Carolina Panthers’ 2025 training camp, hope once again mingles with anxiety in Charlotte. The city buzzes with anticipation. Beneath the surface, though, urgency simmers. This isn’t just another camp for a rebuilding team. It’s a pivotal moment that could set the tone for the franchise’s next chapter. With a playoff drought stretching back to 2017 and a fresh regime hungry for results, the stakes are higher than ever for coaches, veterans, and especially for the Panthers’ embattled young quarterback.
Scrambling for Respect After Defensive Overhaul
The Panthers entered the offseason with a clear sense of urgency. They were determined to fix the glaring deficiencies that plagued their defense last year. Carolina’s unit was the league’s worst in 2024. It posted a dismal 44.9 PFF overall grade and an even more troubling 37.5 in run defense. In response, management launched a series of aggressive moves in both free agency and the draft. They reinforced the defensive line with fresh talent while re-signing key players like Derrick Brown in a bid to shore up their front. The addition of two promising edge rushers highlights the team’s commitment to turning around a struggling defense.
That same urgency extended to the offense. They showed a desperate need for weapons beyond the familiar faces. To boost third-year quarterback Bryce Young’s arsenal, the Panthers landed first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan. He’s a potential game-changer. After last season’s leading receiver, Xavier Legette didn’t really pop, it was clear the offense lacked a true vertical threat. McMillan’s size, speed, and ability to consistently move the chains fill that void. The front office sees him as a rookie ready to emerge as Young’s top receiving option.
Yet, despite these moves, the Panthers continue to wrestle with a seven-year playoff drought. Tha’s the longest in franchise history. Since their last postseason appearance in 2017, Carolina has suffered through zero winning seasons and a combined record of 36-80. Still, an encouraging finish last year under new leadership has sparked hope. Although the Panthers may not be ready to declare a “win-now” mentality, the need to break their long-standing losing streak grows more pressing with every game.
Here we’ll try to look at the Carolina Panthers player who is under the most pressure as they enter the 2025 NFL season.
Under the Spotlight: Bryce Young’s Career at a Crossroads
Hardly any player enters 2025 with more riding on his shoulders than Panthers QB Bryce Young. Just two years ago, Young stood atop draft boards as the consensus No. 1 overall pick. He was lauded for his poise, accuracy, and intangibles. Now, entering year three, he finds himself at a professional crossroads. It sure seems like his NFL future is as uncertain as ever.
Last season, Young’s struggles came to a head when he lost the starting job to veteran Andy Dalton by Week 3. It took Dalton’s suffering a thumb sprain for Young to reclaim his spot under center. From there, Young showed flickers of improvement, particularly in the final stretch between Weeks 16 and 18. That’s where he threw for seven touchdowns and avoided turnovers. Still, those performances only netted an average of 204 passing yards. That’s a modest step, but far from franchise-quarterback territory.
The numbers paint the picture of a QB still searching for his ceiling. Through two seasons, Young has tossed 26 touchdowns against 19 interceptions. He has completed 60.3 percent of his passes. Those stats, when measured against expectations for a former draft kingpin, remain deeply underwhelming. The whispers of doubt have grown into questions of whether Young is truly “the guy” to lead the Panthers out of their malaise.
Synergy and Stakes
The Panthers’ front office can only do so much, of course. 2025 now becomes the season of accountability for Young. This year marks the first time he’ll work with both consecutive seasons in the same offensive system and a true first-round-caliber weapon on the outside. The rookie Tetairoa McMillan is widely projected to become integral almost immediately. He is touted for his reach, hands, and big-play ability. The pressure is now squarely on Young to build chemistry with his new target and make use of more consistent pass protection. He should deliver on the promise that made him a franchise cornerstone.
Training camp will be Young’s crucible. Every rep, every throw with McMillan in July and August will be dissected. The new regime has shown patience, but in the NFL, patience has limits. If Young falters or fails to realize his considerable upside, the franchise could be forced to reconsider its course at quarterback. This is especially true with a front office that didn’t draft him. On the flip side, a breakthrough performance can steady the franchise’s ship and restore his standing as an ascending leader of the offense.
Shoulder the Weight or Give Way?
The burden on Bryce Young is unmistakable. He’s no longer the rookie learning from afar nor the former prodigy living on past glories. As the Panthers take the field for another grueling camp, Young’s performance will serve as a referendum on both his career and the direction of the franchise. Will he seize the moment, develop the rapport with McMillan that Panthers brass envisions, and set the organization on an upward trajectory? Or will another year of disappointment force a reckoning in Carolina?
One thing is clear: When the lights go up and the drills begin, no player at Panthers camp carries more at stake or faces more scrutiny than Young.