Bryce Young didn’t crack the upper reaches of CBS Sports’ latest quarterback rankings, but the company he found himself in says plenty about where he stands.
Bryan DeArdo slotted the Carolina Panthers quarterback into the fourth of six tiers, a group he labeled “volatile veterans.” It’s not exactly flattering territory, but it also isn’t a dumping ground.
"Young should be lauded for the success he's had since being benched early in his second season," he said. "Questions still linger, however, about whether he is a legitimate franchise quarterback or a game manager."
Young was grouped with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers, the Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones, the Tampa Bay Bucs’ Baker Mayfield, and the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud.
Rodgers may not be operating at the level he once did, but he still turned in a strong 2025 and helped the Steelers reach the playoffs, giving Pittsburgh a clear upgrade at quarterback. Jones was rolling toward a huge 2025 and a postseason trip before injuries cut him off. Mayfield didn’t put together a great 2025, though he still came close to getting the Bucs into the postseason and remains an above-average quarterback.
Stroud is the one whose stock has taken the biggest hit. After that dazzling rookie season, he hasn’t been the same, and the distance between him and Young has tightened significantly.
So while there are no elite passers in Young’s tier, he also isn’t sharing it with quarterbacks who are completely washed out. That alone makes this a fairly solid nod in his direction.
It also comes at an important moment. Young is heading into his fourth NFL season, a year that feels loaded with consequences for both him and the Panthers. His progress in 2025 showed something real, but Carolina still needs much more before it can seriously consider a long-term deal that could pay the former No. 1 pick more than $50 million per year.
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 🡒]