Bryce Young keeps getting two completely different evaluations from around the NFL and it explains the Panthers’ hesitancy
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is slowly starting to round the corner when it comes to proving himself as a franchise quarterback, but only a select group of people are actually seeing it.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has become one of the more polarizing quarterbacks going into the 2026 season and few players honestly have as much at stake has Young does this upcoming season.
The pressure has never been higher for Young to prove himself, to the Panthers and to the rest of the NFL, than it is this year. Young seemingly started to turn the corner last season after leading the Panthers to an NFC South title and back into the playoffs.
It was enough to earn some respect from his peers, but other prominent voices around the NFL are still hesitant to give Young any flowers. And it’s the perfect example of why the decision on his future is such a tough call for the Panthers’ front office to make right now.
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young gets different evaluations from around the NFL
A few weeks back, NFL players ranked Young as a Top-100 player in the league going into the 2026 season and a big reason why he earned that respect from his peers was because of his poise in late game situations. Young led four fourth quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives for the Panthers last season, including a go-ahead touchdown with 2:39 remaining against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.
It’s not anything new either. Since entering the league in 2024, Young has seven fourth quarter comebacks and 12 game-winning drives on his resume. When the Panthers can keep a game close, Young’s clutch ability can shine.
“His biggest thing – he’s always calm and collected,” Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl explained. “He never lets the moment get too big.”
The problem is keeping games close and playing at a consistent level, which is an area that still keeps Young from being viewed in the conversation of the Top-20 QBs. ESPN’s latest QB rankings voted on by executives, coaches, and scouts had 20 quarterbacks listed with Top-10 votes. Young did not receive a single one and it did come as a slight surprise compared to how the players viewed his game after the 2025-26 season.
This has to be the year everything comes together for Bryce Young
As previously mentioned, the pressure has never been higher for Young than it is this season. This has to be the year Young puts everything together and establishes himself as one of the Top-20 quarterbacks in the league.
Everything is on the table for Young to sink or swim in 2026. The Panthers will have a first place schedule and face some high level competition (entire NFC and AFC North divisions, for example).
In the meantime, general manager Dan Morgan loaded this roster up with new pieces to get the team to the next level. Now it’s on Young to step up and lead them there. If he can, the league perception will become a lot more consistent around his name, and it’ll make the upcoming decision much easier for the Panthers.