When Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper traded for the draft quarterback Bryce Young with choice no. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, he stated that the Alabama product was the guy who could bring the franchise “a lot” Super Bowl titles.
With the 25-year-old Young entering his fourth season, Tepper hasn’t wavered from that belief.
“I think he has a lot of talent, and with the right weapons and the right situation, yes,” Tepper said in a rare news conference with reporters on Wednesday.
Young is 14-30 as the team’s starting quarterback and the Panthers have yet to sign him to a long-term contract extension. Young is under contract through 2027 after the team picked up his fifth-year option.
Tepper declined to say whether the Panthers have offered Young a long-term deal — one that would reaffirm the organization’s belief that he is worthy of being a franchise quarterback.
But Tepper is pleased with the way Young has progressed in his third season, leading the Panthers to the NFC South title and snapping a seven-year playoff drought before losing 34-31 to Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs.
Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score against the Rams, but Carolina fell to a late pass by the league MVP. Matthew Stafford.
Young beat the Rams early last season and finished with the best stats of his career surpassing 3,000 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
“He’s performed at a high level against top-level competition,” Tepper said. “It seems to bring out the best in him. Bryce is the type of guy who doesn’t feel the pressure. You saw him against the Rams twice (last year). When you see that, you know it’s there. Can he bring it every game? I know it’s there.”
Young people can lead rallies, but require faster starts
Young has shown a knack for rallying the Panthers. He has 12 games won in the fourth quarter or overtime in the last three seasons.
Tepper said that’s great, but now he’d like to see Young — and the Panthers as a team — start games sooner.
Young has also had trouble getting off to a fast start to the season.
He is 0-3 in Week 1 games and the Panthers have been outscored 97-30 in those losses entering Sunday’s home opener against the Chicago Bears. Young hasn’t thrown for more than 161 yards in any of those games and has six interceptions with just two passes to land.
Young said the fast start has been a highlight for the Panthers.
“We’ve talked about it a lot as a team, as a unit and as an organization,” Young said. “That comes with the job. It’s about having the best week possible and going into the game, with as much communication as we can and just being on the same page.”
Tepper likes the offensive players the Panthers have added
Tepper has referred to Young as a point guard who can distribute the ball, but added that he could have used more players to work with in years past.
Tepper believes the Panthers now have them.
Wide receiver Cheers McMillan has one season of experience after earning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Jalen Coker looks like a legit recipient no. 2. The jury is still out on the talented but underachieving 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legettebut the Panthers added the veteran free agent Darren Waller to give Young a tight end.
The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard in the backfield and are hoping Jonathan Brooks can overcome a knee injury and can give the team a big-play threat in the backfield.
Tepper also thinks the team’s overall depth has improved, pointing to the team’s 3-1 preseason record.
“We’re more of a playoff team this year than we were last year,” Tepper said. “I think the pieces are there and we have everything we need.”
Reporting by the Associated Press.
