As the Carolina Panthers open training camp, there’s no shortage of questions hanging over the roster. Jaelan Phillips is in the mix as a free-agent addition who could help spark the pass rush.
Monroe Freeling is set to get a look at right tackle with Taylor Moton sidelined. And the backfield picture still has Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks battling for the lead role.
But ESPN says one storyline towers over the rest: Bryce Young.
For the Panthers, the biggest question of camp is whether their fourth-year quarterback can keep building enough momentum to position himself for a long-term deal. NFL Nation put it this way:
Does Bryce Young play himself into a new contract this season? This is a pivotal season for the Panthers' fourth-year quarterback, who earned the full-time starting role last season after losing playing time to veteran Andy Dalton in 2024.
Talks of a contract extension have appeared to be quiet regarding Young, the No. 1 pick in 2023. The Panthers have slowly improved in total offense since drafting Young, from last place in 2023 to 27th last year...
But Young needs to show he can continue to elevate the unit if he wants a long-term contract extension next year.
Young had stretches last season that looked every bit like the kind of play Carolina has been waiting for. He was sharp against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 and the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. He also came close to knocking off the Rams again in the playoffs, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns in what nearly turned into a huge upset.
Still, the full season told a more uneven story. Young finished with 155 passing yards or fewer seven times and stayed under 200 yards in 12 starts.
His 23 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions were solid, but he also lost seven fumbles. On the ground, his production slipped from 249 rushing yards and six touchdowns to 216 yards and two scores.
Carolina can make life easier on him by surrounding him with more talent, and a more inventive approach from offensive coordinator Brad Idzik would help too if he proves more creative than head coach Dave Canales.
Even so, the real leap has to come from Young himself.
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The Panthers are adding another edge option with a familiar name in the mix, bringing back a pass rusher who has been on the NFL radar after a standout spring in the United Football League. He arrives off a season that put him at the top of the UFLs defensive awards race and included a single-season sack record, the kind of production that tends to reopen doors in the league even for players who have already spent time bouncing around rosters.
There is also a bit of recent Carolina history here, since he was with the Panthers in 2024 and saw action in 10 games while logging 22 tackles. For Carolina, the move fits the usual late-summer search for help up front, but it also keeps alive a little pipeline story from the UFL, where former Louisville Kings players have continued to find NFL opportunities since that leagues first season wrapped up. [Read more 🡒]
David Tepper Just Raised The Stakes On Panthers Stadium Plans
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The plan is still being framed as a partnership between Tepper Sports & Entertainment and the city of Charlotte, but the added investment underscores how aggressive the push has become. Along with the stadium upgrades, the vision now includes a new entertainment venue designed to help turn the site into a year-round destination, and the full project is still on track to be finished by 2030. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Offense Enters Year 2 With A Major Coaching Shift
The Panthers are heading into the second year of Dave Canales tenure with a notable change on the offensive side, one that speaks as much to process as it does to play design. Canales is still deeply involved in the offense, but the day-to-day calling of plays has shifted to Brad Idzik, while Darrell Bevells arrival gives the staff another veteran voice with experience helping shape game plans and in-game decisions.
For Carolina, the move is less about tearing anything down than about refining how the group operates after a year of learning each other. General manager Dan Morgan has backed Canales for making the kind of tough call that can define a staff, and the hope inside the building is that the adjustment helps the offense stay sharper, more collaborative, and better prepared for the expectations that come with Year 2. [Read more 🡒]