NFL insider’s latest prediction could turn out to be huge news for Bryce Young when it comes to extension talks with the Panthers
ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes the Houston Texans will get a deal done this summer with quarterback C.J. Stroud, which can set the foundation for Bryce Young’s extension with the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers have used careful language when discussing the potential extension on the horizon for quarterback Bryce Young, putting the ball in the former first overall pick’s hands to prove what kind of deal he should get.
Regardless, the Panthers have remained committed to Young being the team’s franchise quarterback, unless things completely fall off the rails this upcoming season. The question is more about, how good can Young prove he can be and how much should he be paid.
“That’s something, here internally, that we’ll keep talking through,” Panthers general manager Dan Morgan explained this offseason. “We’ll be in touch with Bryce’s agent and we’ll figure it out at the right time. Right now, I know Bryce is focused on getting better every single day. We obviously love him. He’s getting better year after year, becoming a great leader for us and, really, mastering Dave and Brad Idzik’s offense. So, we’re excited about Bryce. When the contract happens, we’ll see about that. But we’re excited about him and our future here in 2026.”
As for how much money Young could make on his first NFL extension, another team might be planning to make that decision for Carolina.
Adam Schefter believes Texans will reach a deal with C.J. Stroud, setting the bar for the Carolina Panthers
Young isn’t the only top quarterback from the 2023 NFL Draft looking to secure a long-term deal. C.J. Stroud, the former second overall pick of the Houston Texans, is aiming to land an extension of his own and faced with another uncertain situation.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter sees the Texans and Stroud coming to a resolution a lot quicker than the Panthers plan to with Young.
“My guess is, he does,” Schefter said last week on The Pat McAfee Show when asked if he believes Stroud will sign an extension this offseason. “That’s my guess. They’ve been paying their players. And if I had to guess and bet on the Texans and how they handle it, I would say that C.J. Stroud gets paid this offseason. And I would say by the time the season begins, C.J. Stroud has a new deal. That’s my guess, that’s my hunch, we’ll see if it plays out.”
Bryce Young and the Panthers will be watching that situation just as closely over the next few months because Stroud’s potential extension with the Texans will set the bar for Young’s potential deal in Carolina.
This could be similar to the Justin Herbert – Tua Tagovailoa situation where Herbert signed his deal first (worth $52.5 million per year) followed by Tagovailoa’s deal that was signed the next day (worth $53.1 million per year) despite Herbert getting drafted one pick after Tagovailoa.
Now, the timing obviously won’t be the same in this situation due to Carolina’s hesitancy, but Stroud’s price will set the bar for Young’s expected price.
Bryce Young vs. C.J. Stroud 2025 stats
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud were the first and second overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, here’s how they matched up during the 2025 season:
- Young: 8-8 W-L record, 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing TDs, 11 INTs
- Stroud: 9-5 W-L record, 3,041 passing yards, 19 passing TDs, 8 INTs
Panthers are smart to wait out a deal with Bryce Young, and the Texans should be doing the same
Over the last few years, teams have had immediate buyers remorse when it comes to paying young quarterbacks. This offseason alone, the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals both moved on from their respective young quarterbacks they handed massive extensions to earlier than they should have.
The Panthers and Texans both have two more years on the books with Young and Stroud. Carolina is taking the right approach by waiting out to see what Young can become and how much he’s actually worth. Houston jumping the gun with Stroud could easily blow up in the team’s face and tank the entire foundation of the roster if he fails to live up to it, just like we saw with Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray.
The price point will be the most interesting part to watch. Will Stroud’s potential deal continue the trend of young QBs earning $50+ million a year, or will the Texans use Stroud’s deal to set a new precedent for average-caliber young QBs? It’s certainly a question the Panthers will be monitoring closely.