Bryce Young’s path to a true breakout in Carolina may come down to two newcomers on offense.
The Panthers have seen flashes from Young, but they still need him to string together a complete season. He took a clear step forward in 2025, and the second half of that year hinted at what his ceiling can look like when things start clicking. If you project his second-half production across a full season - with the bye factored in, so the sample is a little smaller - it comes out to 3,445 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
That’s the version of Young Carolina wants to make the norm.
The bigger question is how he gets there, especially after another slow start. Coaching will matter, and Dave Canales teams have a history of opening sluggishly. But the offense itself may be the real key, and Athlon Sports’ Doug Farrar pointed to two additions that could change the shape of Young’s season.
The first is Monroe Freeling. He is not locked into the job yet, since he is currently behind Rasheed Walker in the left tackle battle, but if Freeling gets on the field, Carolina could have a major answer for Young’s protection issues.
Farrar’s tape study highlighted a blocker with obvious upside, even if the technical polish still needs work. The raw tools are there for something special, and that matters because Young’s blindside protection has been shaky at times.
The other name is Chris Brazzell.
Not everyone is sold on him, especially given how few Tennessee receivers have translated cleanly to the NFL. Farrar, though, sees a different kind of player. He believes Brazzell can bring the kind of vertical threat that changes how defenses have to play Carolina.
"Pairing Brazzell with McMillan could give Young the kinds of vertical options he hasn’t had since his Alabama days," Farrar wrote. "Factor in the potential that veteran Xavier Legette brings, and the Panthers’ receiver group could be suddenly formidable sooner than later."
That’s the blueprint: give Young a real downfield weapon and better help on the edge, and the offense starts to look a lot more dangerous. Young’s deep ball is already one of the best in the NFL. Adding someone who can actually run under it, while also shoring up the left side, could be exactly what pushes him from a strong finish into a full-season rise.
Even if Walker wins the left tackle job, the protection should still be solid. But if Freeling emerges and Brazzell becomes the kind of vertical threat Farrar believes he can be, Young may finally have the setup he needs to turn a good half-season into something much bigger.
In Other News...
Tetairoa McMillan Camp Mess Has Panthers Fans And Parents Heated
What was supposed to be a youth football camp tied to Tetairoa McMillan instead turned into a frustrating day for families at A.C. Reynolds High School on July 1, when parents showed up expecting an event that was no longer happening. McMillan was not involved in planning and could not attend, and FlexWork Sports later confirmed the camp had been canceled back in February, leaving a messy gap between what families were told and what was actually on the calendar.
The school added another layer to the confusion by saying it never approved the event in the first place, and the NCHSAA dead period would have blocked facility use anyway. For Panthers fans, it is the kind of off-field headache that reflects poorly on everyone attached to the name, especially when the communication breakdown lands on parents who were simply trying to give their kids a football experience. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Answer To Bryce Young's TE Problem
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to sort out a tight end room that still looks more functional than threatening for Bryce Youngs passing game. Tommy Tremble, JaTavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans are the names currently in line for the job, but Carolina has been working with a group that needs more proven help in the middle of the field, especially as the rest of the passing options remain relatively thin behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
One possible path to easing that pressure is a veteran addition in free agency, and the fit makes sense on paper because Carolina is looking for a pass-catching tight end who can give Young a more reliable target. The appeal is easy to see after a strong run earlier in the players career, though the most recent season was far less productive, which leaves the Panthers weighing upside against the risk that the answer might not be as simple as the need. [Read more 🡒]
John Metchie May Have One Edge Panthers Fans Should Watch Closely
John Metchie IIIs arrival gives the Panthers something more than another name in the receiver room. After signing a one-year deal, he is back alongside Bryce Young, the quarterback he once caught passes from at Alabama, and that shared history matters in a competition where timing, trust and familiarity can separate the last few roster spots.
Metchie is now in the mix with several other wideouts as Carolina sorts through its depth chart, but the connection with Young is the one edge fans will notice first. The two already know how to work together, and for a team trying to sharpen its passing game, that kind of built-in chemistry can make Metchie a player worth watching closely as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]