Bryce Young is completely out of excuses heading into his sophomore season

Dan Morgan set out to make one thing a reality during the 2024 NFL free agency.  Second-year quarterback Bryce Young shouldn't have excuses if he fails to live up to his No. 1 overall pick status in the 2024 NFL season.  Morgan, early in free agency, added two good guards Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis. […]

Ian Kayanja
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Dec 24, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes the ball in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Morgan set out to make one thing a reality during the 2024 NFL free agency. 

Second-year quarterback Bryce Young shouldn't have excuses if he fails to live up to his No. 1 overall pick status in the 2024 NFL season. 

Morgan, early in free agency, added two good guards Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis. He also traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who is a former 1,000-yard pass catcher. On paper, the Panthers offense is already miles better than it was during the 2023 season. 

How is the Panthers offense better

Dec 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) carries the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) carries the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Lumen Field. Image via Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The offense is improved, firstly, by the added pass-catchers. 

During the 2023 season, Adam Thielen was the only reliable option for Young. When he wasn't open, the rest of the Panthers' receivers struggled to create necessary separation to make throws easy on the No. 1 overall pick.

That is different with the additions of Johnson. During the 2023 season, Johnson caught 51 passes for 717 yards. 

His best season came in 2021 when he caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. That was before the Steelers were thrust into quarterback purgatory. Now Johnson will be coupled with a signal caller who can get him the ball again. 

Coupled with Johnson is the development of Jonathan Mingo, who came into the league with the raw talent to be productive but lacked the polish game to do so during his rookie season. 

With an offseason of work, Mingo should be able to put together the raw skills seen during his pre-draft process and become a reliable No. 2 for the Panthers. 

Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) is seen while leaving the field after the end of the second half of the game between host Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, November 27, 2022, in Miami Gardens, FL. Final score, Miami Dolphins, 30, Houston Texans, 15.
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) is seen while leaving the field after the end of the second half of the game between host Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, November 27, 2022, in Miami Gardens, FL. Final score, Miami Dolphins, 30, Houston Texans, 15.Image via ANDRES LEIVA/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK

Then there is Hunt and Lewis. Young was sacked 62 times. It was more than any other rookie quarterback since David Carr, who was sacked 76 times. 

With Lewis and Hunt, the Panthers added the dawgs up front that Morgan said he was looking for. It should buy Young more time to read the field and deliver passes to his new-look playmakers. 

What does it all mean? 

When looking at the additions the Panthers made during free agency, Young will be completely out of excuses. 

The roster wasn't good during 2023. Already, the roster is better than that. Carolina brought in Dave Canales, who has rebuilt Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. Now, he is tasked with rebuilding Young, who has no excuse to be the version of himself the Panthers thought they were getting during the 2023 NFL draft. 

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