Todd McShay’s latest mock draft put the Carolina Panthers in a spot nobody in Charlotte wants to think about yet: looking for Bryce Young’s replacement.
In The Ringer’s projection for the 2027 NFL Draft, McShay has Carolina taking Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr with the No. 7 overall pick. That kind of draft slot would signal a rough season, and McShay made clear why he sees that as the pivot point.
"I don't foresee the Panthers picking this early, but it would be time to move on from Bryce Young if that's the case," he said.
McShay’s evaluation of Carr was loaded with praise, especially for the way he already operates like a polished pro. He pointed to the Notre Dame quarterback’s processing, timing, and mechanics as major selling points.
"Carr processes quickly, plays on time, and operates with the polished mechanics of a much more experienced quarterback," McShay explained.
"His quick release, anticipation, and ability to layer throws into tight windows give him an excellent NFL passing foundation. He needs more consistency when working the middle and throwing on the move, but he has a real chance to develop into a franchise starter," McShay added. "He’s got some Baker Mayfield-type moxie to him that I think Dave Canales would appreciate."
Carr has certainly given scouts plenty to like so far this season. Through two games, he has completed 71.4% of his passes for 492 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions.
For Carolina, though, the bigger picture still circles back to Young. He has struggled for much of his career, and even though he took a step forward in 2025, it wasn’t enough to lock down the job for good. He has opened 2026 strongly, though, erupting for 361 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1.
That leaves the Panthers in a familiar place: waiting to see whether Young’s early-season surge is the start of something real or just another false dawn. If he doesn’t clearly prove he can hold the starting role long term, Carolina may be back in the quarterback market next year.
And if that happens, McShay’s mock suggests Carr could be the name at the top of the list.
In Other News...
Panthers Found Early Hope With Bryce Young But Week 2 Gets Tougher
Bryce Young and the Panthers left Week 1 with something they badly needed: evidence that the offense can be sharper where it matters most. Against the Bears, Carolina turned all four of its red-zone trips into touchdowns or field goals, a major step up from last seasons struggles, and it did so by leaning into a more aggressive passing approach instead of defaulting to safe runs near the goal line.
The challenge now is carrying that formula into a much tougher divisional test against the Falcons. Carolinas red-zone execution was built on spreading the ball around and trusting Young to make quicker, more decisive throws, and theres a real case for sticking with it. The question is whether that same rhythm can hold up when the opponent is better prepared and the windows get tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face An Uncomfortable Week 2 Warning In Atlanta
All four NFC South teams came out of the first week of the 2026 season with a loss, which leaves the Panthers in the same crowded spot as everyone else in the division heading into Week 2. For Carolina, the trip to Atlanta now carries a little extra weight, because it is the first chance to sort out an early-season logjam and avoid letting an already messy division race get any messier.
The Falcons are dealing with major quarterback injury issues, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both in the mix, and Cooper Rush is expected to get the start despite recent struggles. Even with that uncertainty, one CBS Sports analyst picked Atlanta to pull an upset, pointing to the way the Falcons want to run their offense and the defensive showing they just turned in. For the Panthers, that makes this more than a simple road game. It is an early warning that the division may be offering opportunities, but not many easy ones. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Gave Panthers Fans Hope They Still Dont Fully Trust
The Panthers walked out of Week 1 with the kind of defensive stat line that tends to linger, after Chicago hung a record number of points on Ejiro Everos unit. Even so, Bryce Young gave Carolina something it badly needed on the other side of the ball, turning in a strong offensive performance that briefly shifted the mood from frustration to cautious optimism.
Youngs showing was enough to remind fans why the franchise still has a chance to point itself in the right direction, but the trust is clearly not all the way back. Fan confidence in the teams direction has slipped a bit, and a sizable chunk of the fan base still views Young and offensive coordinator Brad Idziks work as only average or worse, which leaves Carolina with hope, concern and plenty to prove in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]