The Carolina Panthers’ season may have ended in heartbreak with a narrow 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, but the front office isn’t wasting any time looking ahead-especially when it comes to their quarterback. General manager Dan Morgan made it clear that the team plans to pick up the fifth-year option on Bryce Young’s rookie contract, keeping him under team control through the 2027 season.
That’s a significant move, and it signals confidence in the 2023 No. 1 overall pick. But it also opens the door to a much bigger question: Is Bryce Young the guy for Carolina long term? And if he is, when’s the right time to pay him like it?
The Panthers could choose to go all-in this offseason, locking Young into a multi-year extension before the market drives quarterback prices even higher. But not everyone around the league is sold on that idea just yet.
A veteran personnel executive from another NFL team recently offered a cautionary tale-one that Panthers fans might want to pay attention to. He pointed to Tua Tagovailoa’s situation in Miami as a potential parallel to what could unfold in Carolina.
“Tua had his most success when he was still on his rookie deal because the Dolphins could build around him,” the executive said. “But once they paid him $50-something million a year, they started losing pieces.
And now he’s got to do more with less. He’s not the kind of quarterback who carries a team-you win with him, not because of him.
And right now, I see Bryce Young the same way.”
That’s not just idle speculation. Miami inked Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million extension in 2024.
Since then, the Dolphins have missed the playoffs two straight years and just fired head coach Mike McDaniel. The franchise is widely expected to move on from Tagovailoa before the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the Panthers, the warning is clear: paying a quarterback too early-especially one still developing-can backfire if it limits roster flexibility and forces him to carry more than he’s ready for.
So where does that leave Young?
Statistically, his sophomore season didn’t exactly scream “franchise cornerstone.” According to Pro Football Reference, he finished 27th among qualified quarterbacks with a 47.8 adjusted QBR and tied for 29th in passer rating at 87.8. Those are tough numbers, especially in a league where QB play is everything.
But Hall of Famer Kurt Warner sees potential-if Young can clean up some mechanical issues.
“When you watch Bryce, his feet are together. Sometimes they’re sideways,” Warner observed.
“He’s kind of bouncing up in the air, trying to feel it. I don’t know if that’s because of his height or size.
But when he decides to throw, he’s either got to get into position or try to generate power from a bad position. And when you’re already limited physically, that leads to balls that hang, throws that are late, or passes that don’t have enough juice.”
It’s not a question of talent-Young’s football IQ and poise are well-documented. But in the NFL, mechanics matter, especially for quarterbacks who don’t have elite size or arm strength to fall back on. Warner’s breakdown paints a picture of a player still learning how to get the most out of his frame and skill set.
For now, there’s no indication Carolina is moving on from Young anytime soon. He’s expected to be under center when training camp kicks off later this year. But the decision about his long-term future doesn’t have to be made today-and that might be the smartest play for Morgan and the Panthers front office.
There’s no denying the upside. But there’s also no rushing the process. If the Panthers want to build something sustainable, they’ll need to be sure Bryce Young is the quarterback who can elevate the team-not just the one who fits into it.