Bryce Young is carrying himself like a different quarterback in Carolina’s building, and one Panthers teammate says the change is easy to see.
Second-year tight end Mitchell Evans told The Athletic that Young is “more confident” in 2026, pointing to the way the quarterback has settled in over the last year and a half. Evans said, “Just being here for the last year and a half, I’d say he just seems more comfortable,” and added, "Even from when I first got here to now, he seems more confident in himself.
And just the way he carries himself, he’s got more of a presence. And you can see that reflected on the field and even in the locker room and throughout the building.
You can see he’s more confident.”
That confidence comes after a strong 2025 season for Young, who finished with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also helped lead the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
Now the stakes are even higher. Young is set to make $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal, while his fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft has already put up 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Panthers uniform.
Carolina’s 2026 schedule is a tough one, with matchups against the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
Young knows what’s ahead, and he’s not interested in spending much time looking backward.
“I’m not a big sit back, reflect, compare (person). Doesn’t really do anything for me.
So I don’t think about the past like that,” Young said. “I’m happy with the camp we’re having so far.
I’m happy with the growth as a unit. But it’s still early.
We’ve got a lot more to do.”
If Young keeps building on that progress, the payday should be coming next offseason. If not, Carolina could be facing a much different conversation in 2027.
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