Bryce Young isn’t the extension candidate the Panthers should be prioritizing right now heading into training camp
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has been a topic of discussion all offseason as the team weighs the decision to hand him a long-term extension. However, there’s another extension-worthy candidate the Panthers need to be focused on.
Training camp for the Carolina Panthers is set to start exactly one month from today on July 24 when players return to the team facilities. That doesn’t mean the next month isn’t going to be busy for this team.
The break between the offseason program and the start of training camp is a great time for the players to get away from the coaches before locking in for the season. However, it’s not a break for the front office and coaching staff, who remain hard at work.
This is the time of year when numerous contract extensions get signed and we’ve already seen some big ones hit the news over the last few days. The name everyone has been talking about when it comes to extension talks in Carolina is quarterback Bryce Young, and for good reason. But, there’s another player the team should be prioritizing right now.
Damien Lewis, not Bryce Young, should be the priority extension candidate for the Carolina Panthers
ESPN’s staff broke down the latest news on the upcoming extensions we could see get signed this summer for all 32 teams. Surprisingly, Young was listed as the candidate for the Panthers going into the fourth year of his rookie contract. However, the first sentence completely contradicts the entire point of this exercise ESPN held with the team writers.
“The Panthers are open to the idea of an extension for Young, and they continue to say they believe in him as their long-term franchise QB. But they aren’t in a hurry to do a deal, and it’s possible this doesn’t happen until next offseason,” Dan Graziano explained.
The name Graziano should have listed instead is left guard Damien Lewis, who should honestly be at the top of the priority list for the Panthers right now. Carolina has made it clear that they aren’t paying Bryce Young in 2026 until they see more. Lewis, on the other hand, has proven his worth as a cornerstone player and deserves a pay raise.
In 2024, Lewis signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Panthers and has only missed two games since signing that deal. He’s a consistent player up-front and plays at a high level, even though he hasn’t been recognized like right guard Robert Hunt was earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2024.
Lewis is just as integral to this offense and will be an important piece for Monroe Freeling, the eventual franchise left tackle, to play beside for multiple seasons to come.
Damien Lewis is due for a new extension with the Panthers
Even though Lewis has two years remaining on his current deal, he has no more guaranteed money left on the contract. That’s usually the point in which front offices start working out a new deal. Lewis just turned 29-years-old in March and should be looking to lock in one last big deal that gives him more security.
“My job is to come to work, and God’s gonna take care of the rest. I don’t even worry about the future, man. I’m right here, I’m 10 toes down right here,” Lewis said. “I’m gonna be where my feet at.”
A new deal for Lewis will likely be two-years, worth $30+ million. A similar contract comparison would be Joe Thuney’s two-year, $35 million contract extension he signed with the Chicago Bears. However, that’s the reigning Protector of the Year we’re talking about, so I see Lewis’ deal coming in lower than that, closer to the $30 million mark.
He’s absolutely worth it and a player the Panthers need to prioritize locking up while putting a pause on Bryce Young’s contract talks until next offseason.