Bryce Young is heading into 2026 with no shortage of help around him, and that’s exactly why the spotlight is so bright.
The Carolina Panthers are expected to be in the NFC playoff mix next season, and a big chunk of that outlook rests on Young’s right arm. Since going No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has flashed franchise-quarterback ability. The problem is that the flashes have not yet turned into steady production.
That’s what makes 2026 such a pivotal year for the 24-year-old. If Young takes a real step forward, he could put himself in line for a major contract extension. If he doesn’t, Carolina may be forced to think about moving in a different direction.
Young’s 2025 season was the best of his young career. In 16 games, he completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added 216 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
Those numbers give him something solid to build on, and the Panthers have made sure the supporting cast is there. The excuses about a lack of weapons are gone. Young is set to have Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Chris Brazzell III and Jimmy Horn Jr. at wide receiver.
At tight end, Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders are in place. In the backfield, Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks will help carry the rushing load and support the passing game.
Carolina has put the pieces together for a quality offense. Now the pressure shifts squarely onto Young to make it work.
If he comes out slow in 2026, the Panthers could start looking at alternatives before long. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton has pointed to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones as a possible pre-trade deadline target for Carolina.
The window is open for the Panthers to compete in the NFC. If quarterback play holds them back, the team may not wait around.
Carolina has shown plenty of patience with Young. This season is where that patience gets tested.
In Other News...
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Tight End Answer For Bryce Young
The Panthers have spent years trying to patch together a tight end room that never quite gave Bryce Young the kind of reliable middle-of-the-field answer every young quarterback needs. Since 2019, no Carolina tight end has gotten to 500 receiving yards, which helps explain why the position keeps coming up whenever the roster is discussed and why potential fixes tend to draw so much attention.
A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to make the roster sturdier around Bryce Young, adding help on defense with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and giving the future a little more upside with rookies like Monroe Freeling and Chris Brazzell II. The next obvious step is finding more reliable production at tight end, a spot that can make life easier for a young quarterback by cleaning up the middle of the field and giving him another dependable outlet when plays break down.
That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]