Carolina’s quarterback picture looks a lot better with Bryce Young than it did when his NFL career opened in 2023, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers can sit on their hands forever.
If Young opens the 2026 season looking much the same as he did a year earlier, Carolina should be ready to start digging into other options. One name that makes a lot of sense is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who CBS Sports recently included on its list of trade candidates.
Richardson has already been floated around the league as a possible target, but he may be a more realistic fit for the Panthers than San Francisco backup Mac Jones. Carter Bahns noted that there hasn’t been much of a market for Richardson, pointing to the fact that he stayed on the Colts’ roster even after the team let him seek a trade back in February. Still, Bahns suggested that could change as quarterback battles sort themselves out and teams begin looking for backup help over the next two months.
There’s no mystery about why Richardson still draws interest. He has only 15 starts, and the results haven’t exactly turned heads, but his physical traits keep him in the conversation. Bahns wrote that his size and athleticism give him a very high ceiling, and that if he gets another shot as a pro starter, it wouldn’t be surprising if he develops into a legitimate one.
The biggest selling point is the arm. Richardson’s strength is described as as good as any’s in the sport, and he brings real value as a runner too, with 634 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
For Carolina, the appeal is obvious. If the Panthers believe they can clean up Richardson’s accuracy and progression issues, he would be a worthwhile gamble for a Day 3 pick. For a former fourth overall selection, that’s a pretty manageable swing.
And beyond the upside, Richardson offers something very different from Young. He’s the opposite end of the athletic spectrum, with all the physical tools Carolina’s current backup group lacks. That alone should keep him on the Panthers’ radar.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Debate Just Took Another Turn For Panthers Fans
Bryce Youngs future in Carolina has been one of the leagues most debated quarterback topics, and the conversation got another push this week when former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney voiced confidence in the former No. 1 pick. Youngs record as a starter has left plenty of room for skepticism, but he has also piled up more than 8,000 passing yards and 49 touchdowns since arriving in Carolina, enough production to keep the argument alive about what he can become with the right support around him.
Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik added to that optimism by pointing to Youngs competitiveness and his ability to deliver in critical moments. Even with the questions that still follow him, Youngs first appearance on the NFLs Top 100 list at No. 98 suggests the league is starting to take notice of his progress. The bigger issue now is whether Carolina sees enough consistency to make a longer-term commitment, or whether this remains a wait-and-see situation heading into the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Is Giving Panthers Fans Real Hope For 2026
Bryce Youngs rise has given Carolina something it has not had in a while: real reason to look past the present and imagine a better 2026. Since returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the 2024 season, Young has trended upward, and the Panthers have ridden that improvement all the way to their first playoff appearance since 2017 and their first NFC South title since 2015.
The optimism is easy to understand, because Young looks like a quarterback whose best football may still be ahead of him. Still, the next step is about more than flashes, and the questions around consistency have not disappeared, especially with his limited history of big-yardage outings. If he keeps building on this stretch, Carolinas outlook gets a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]