Bryce Young’s 2025 season has been anything but predictable - and now, with four games left, the stakes are sky-high for both the quarterback and the Carolina Panthers.
After a brutal start to the year that had some wondering whether the former No. 1 overall pick might be headed for the bench, Young has turned things around in a big way. He’s helped guide the Panthers to a 7-6 record and - believe it or not - into legitimate contention for the NFC South crown.
That alone is a remarkable storyline for a franchise that’s spent the last few years stuck in neutral. But make no mistake: Young isn’t just playing to salvage Carolina’s season.
He’s playing to solidify his future.
The Panthers have a major decision looming this offseason. They’ll need to determine whether to exercise Young’s fifth-year option for 2027 - a move that would signal long-term confidence in the 24-year-old. And while his recent play has offered some hope, the front office is still very much in wait-and-see mode.
One NFL executive, speaking anonymously, didn’t mince words when evaluating Young’s trajectory.
“He has not shown an ability to consistently make the entire offense better with him,” the executive said, via ESPN. “Basically, he has two years to earn an extension if you pick up his option year.”
That’s a clear message: the clock is ticking.
Through 12 starts this season, Young has thrown for 2,337 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s completing 63.4 percent of his passes and holds an 87.9 passer rating - all marks that suggest progress, even if they don’t jump off the page.
Statistically, this is shaping up to be the best season of his young NFL career. But considering how rocky his first two years were, that’s more of a starting point than a finished product.
What’s encouraging is the way Young has responded lately. He’s looked more composed in the pocket, more decisive with his reads, and more confident in his throws - the kind of growth you want to see from a young quarterback in December.
But there’s a caveat here: we saw a similar late-season surge from Young in 2024. Back then, he finished strong and built up some offseason optimism, only to stumble badly out of the gate this year.
That’s why these next four games are so critical. This isn’t just about making a playoff push. This is about proving to the Panthers’ brass that he can be the guy - not just for now, but for the foreseeable future.
If Young regresses or fails to elevate the offense down the stretch, Carolina could opt not to pick up that fifth-year option. That would set him up to hit free agency after the 2026 season - and potentially open the door for the Panthers to start exploring other quarterback options as early as this offseason.
On the flip side, if Young continues to trend upward and leads Carolina into the postseason, he could buy himself time - and trust - in a league that doesn’t hand out either easily.
The Panthers’ next test comes Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. It’s a divisional matchup with playoff implications, but for Bryce Young, it’s something more: another opportunity to prove he belongs, and another step in what’s quickly becoming the most important stretch of his career.