In a league where quarterbacks are either crowned or cast off at lightning speed, Bryce Young’s NFL journey is already testing both patience and perception.
After a turbulent start to his pro career, including being benched midway through his sophomore season, Young returned to finish 2024 with a poise that reignited hope in Charlotte. Over his final five games, Young threw for 1,172 yards, 9 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions, posting a passer rating of 102.3. It wasn’t just a bounce back, it was a resurrection.
Now entering Year 3, the Carolina Panthers face a question that could define their rebuild: Should they extend Bryce Young after the 2025 season?
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan believes Young is the top extension candidate for Carolina, writing, “He’ll likely receive some sort of extension, but if he carries his momentum from the end of last season into the entirety of 2025, he could get a larger number than some may think.” He points to Trevor Lawrence’s five-year, $275 million extension as a benchmark, a player who also lost 22 games across his first two seasons.
The Panthers hold a fifth-year option on Young, allowing them to keep him under contract through 2027 without committing long-term right away. That gives them flexibility, as well as time.
But in today’s NFL, waiting often comes at a price. Quarterbacks who prove even moderately effective are commanding $40M+ annually. Young doesn’t need to be elite in 2025, he just needs to prove he’s the guy. A full season of consistency, especially with new WR1 Tetairoa McMillan in the fold, could lock in his future, and Carolina’s.
Still, skeptics are right to be cautious. Young’s career passer rating sits at 82.5, and he’s gone 7-20 as a starter. A hot five-game stretch doesn’t erase two years of growing pains.
So what’s the move?
Let Young play. Let him prove it. If by December he’s leading drives and not just surviving them, then the Panthers will have their answer, and they’ll need to pay up.
Don’t extend Bryce Young yet. But keep your wallet close, 2025 might force Carolina’s hand.
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