Bryce Young’s place in the quarterback conversation is still very much unsettled, and CBS Sports just made that plain.
Bryan DeArdo slotted the Carolina Panthers quarterback into his “Volatile Veteran” tier in his latest quarterback rankings, putting Young alongside names like Aaron Rodgers, CJ Stroud, and Geno Smith. It’s a label that fits the moment for Carolina as much as it does for the quarterback himself.
The Panthers are coming off an 8-9 season in 2025 and won a tiebreaker to reach the playoffs after claiming the NFC South title. That gives them a foothold, but not nearly enough comfort. The next step has to be real progress, and Young sits at the center of that push.
His 2025 season was solid, but not enough to earn a long-term contract. Carolina already picked up his fifth-year option, so the message is clear: Young has more to prove before anyone can call him the franchise quarterback with certainty.
DeArdo pointed to both the promise and the uncertainty in Young’s profile. “Young should be lauded for the success he's had since being benched early in his second season. Questions still linger, however, about whether he is a legitimate franchise quarterback or a game manager.”
That’s the tension with Young right now. He showed improvement in year three, but there’s still room for more. DeArdo noted that Young “needs to be more consistent” and that he’ll be tested in 2026 with a first-place schedule.
For the Panthers, the path forward starts with Young starting fast and sustaining it. If he does that, DeArdo’s next tier might be waiting for him in the 2027 offseason.
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 🡒]