Bryce Young’s rookie season didn’t go as hoped, but the former No. 1 overall pick is holding onto his confidence and optimism as he enters his second NFL season.
The Carolina Panthers endured a challenging 2023, winning just two games. However, with a new head coach at the helm, there’s renewed belief that Young can turn the team’s fortunes around.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales, reflecting on Young’s college career, made it clear that his expectations for the former Heisman Trophy winner remain sky-high.
“When I watched him at Alabama for all those years, whether it was one of their early games where they’re running somebody out of a stadium or whether it was a game late in the year, he’s got the same effect in those moments,” Canales told CBS Sports.
“He’s the same way when it comes about his work. So I know that there’s going to be a measure of him just feeling certain games out.”
Young, who was a standout at Mater Dei High School in California and dominated college football at Alabama, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2021, is now poised to make his mark in the NFL.
To support him, the Panthers have made significant moves in the offseason.
“He’s a guy that has been the best player in high school. The best player in college. So he expects to be the best player again,” Canales added.
Carolina has bolstered its offensive lineup with key acquisitions, including former Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson and second-round draft pick Xavier Legette.
Additionally, they’ve enhanced their offensive line by signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.
Despite a rocky rookie year largely attributed to team shortcomings, there’s a strong belief in Young’s potential.
Panthers reporter Sheena Quick expressed this confidence on The Pat McAfee Show, stating, “There is a massive belief because there was so much tied into him, and last year was just not a fair assessment whatsoever.”
While it’s true that last season wasn’t Young’s fault, there is significant concern that he may very well be a bust in the NFL.
The fact that C.J. Stroud played so well for the Houston Texans makes the whole situation even more uneasy.
Having said that, it’s possible that Young just needs a little extra time to adjust to the NFL level. He certainly wouldn’t be the first.
The Panthers have undergone a major overhaul, with new leadership including Canales, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, and Dan Morgan as the new general manager.
This revamped approach aims to rebuild from a disastrous 2023 season.
One way or another, Carolina needs to find out if Young can indeed be their franchise quarterback going forward.
Another quarterback whose NFL career got off to a rocky start was Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
“If you didn’t want to believe in me, that’s OK, because I’ll make a believer out of you,” Allen famously stated years ago.
While Young and Allen couldn’t be more different size-wise, Carolina fans are hoping that Young will have the same attitude that Allen did – and ultimately the same results.
What are your thoughts on Young? … Do you think he will end up living up to the hype? Or will he go down as one of the biggest busts in recent memory???