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Carolina Panthers hoped Bryce Young would take the next step in his second season, but it didn’t start as he had hoped in 2024.
Like his rookie campaign in 2023, Young fought to get something to get started, and Panthers looked like they were heading for another failed year.
Head coach Dave Canales called Bench Young after only two weeks in favor of veteran Andy Dalton, but Young had two choices: Either let this become reality or continue to work.
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Carolina Panthers Quarterback Bryce Young, #9, prepares to pass in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. (Bob Donnan-Preferred Pictures)
He chose the latter, and it paid off despite Panthers ending only 5-12 last season. Young’s wave in the second half has a Panthers legend enthusiastically this season with him under the center again.
“It was just great for the whole organization for Bryce to take that jump after an early hardship,” Greg Olsen told Pakinomist Digital, while in the fifth year at Tight End University, which he co -founded with Travis Kelce and George Kittle. “For him to answer, it says a lot about him.”
As Olsen reminds any football fan, “If you don’t have the Quarterback position right, everything else is really challenging.”
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Panthers chose young number one overall out of Alabama after his Heisman-winning season, but that has not been the start he hoped for in the NFL. Still, the young signal call never continued, continued to work, leaned in public on his faith, and the results showed in 2024.
Young eventually got his exit role back in week 8 and he wouldn’t have it abandoned for the rest of the year.
Greg Olsen participates in the 46th annual Sports Emmy Awards at Jazz at the Lincoln Center on May 20, 2025 in New York City. (John Nacion/FilmMagic)
During these starts, while Panthers went 3-6, Young threw 1,853 yards with 12 touchdowns for six captures and a 60.4% completion rate. If his average was extrapolated over a 17-match season, he would have thrown in 3,500 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
During his last three games, two of which resulted in victories, Young threw a total of 612 yards (204.0 per game average) with seven touchdowns for no interceptions.
“I think Bryce really showed his true colors last year, and it was really impressive,” Olsen continued.
“I think for Panthers going in this year, hopefully it will continue to improve and they continue to build the guard schedule around him.”
Panthers built around him and prepared Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan in the first round to add a hopeful top recipient in the future to join Adam Thielen and Xavier toy.
Carolina also takes a flyer that Hunter Renfrow can return to his annoying self on the field, as one who showed crispy route and secure hands that made him a reliable target for Las Vegas Raiders.
Carolina Panthers Quarterback Bryce Young, #9, warms up before the game against Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. (Gregory Fisher -usa Today Sports)
Year 3 in the NFL, especially for choosing the first round, is expected to be the jumping year in which the player finds his rhythm and plays more consistently.
Olsen is hopeful that Young can do it in 2025, but he will have to prove that he is picking up where he escaped in September.
