2024 is a huge year for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
Pro Football Focus contributor Bradley Locker recently named 10 players with the most to prove heading into this season. Included on the list is Young, whose back may already be up against the wall here in his second pro campaign.
Locker writes of the 22-year-old:
He’s played only 16 NFL games, but it already feels like the cave of perception is collapsing on Young, who was not nearly as good as his rookie counterparts in 2023. His 52.3 passing grade was the lowest among the 25 quarterbacks to drop back 400 or more times.
Most alarmingly, Young contributed to more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws. In fact, Young’s 22 turnover-worthy plays as an NFL rookie were just three shy of how many he accrued during his entire career at Alabama.
With Young having to learn a new playbook and still just entering Year 2, some might view this as a bit premature for him having a lot at stake. But the NFL accelerator doesn’t slow for many, especially someone as highly scrutinized as Young. If C.J. Stroud continues to play like an MVP and Anthony Richardson and Will Levis make strides while Young doesn’t, the magnifying glass will only move closer on Young and the Panthers. Meanwhile, if Young looks much more like the Heisman victor of the past, he should be on a far less worrisome track.
Young wasn’t set up for much success in 2023, when he was saddled with unreliable pass catchers, 15 different starters between the guard positions and a mess of a coaching staff. But unfortunately, the NFL cares more about results than circumstances—especially if you’re a No. 1 overall pick.
Those results are expected to be much more favorable here in 2024, with the organization having made clear upgrades at the receiver and interior line spots. And while Dave Canales is entering his first year as a head coach, the vision on his staff seems incredibly uniform compared to what was there last season.
Soon, it’ll be up to Young to prove that his rookie showing isn’t indicative of who he can be moving forward.
