I’ve gotta just give all the credit to Bryce. Handling [his struggles] with maturity, attacking it, and really positioning himself for that next opportunity, not knowing when that opportunity was going to come. Stepping back in and doing the work. Taking the challenge and really finding the joy of playing again.
I could sense that when we went out to Denver. We didn’t get the result we wanted. We didn’t win that game. But he threw some balls with confidence. He was having fun, connecting with his teammates, working the sideline, all that. And it was just like I could see this shift in him. And then he just took steps every week. Diving into the install, diving into the gameplan, improving from the previous game and applying those things, it was really cool to be a part of.
Carolina was in a bad place early in 2024. Young wasn’t showing any signs of improvement and was playing so poorly, it was fair to wonder whether Carolina’s dreadful 2023 might have permanently broken him. Months later, the Panthers have realized all their No. 1 pick needed was more time to grow and a chance to prove himself.
There’s no guarantee Young will end up being their franchise guy in the long run, but the returns from his 2024 season certainly suggest they have their man. With Young as their centerpiece, the Panthers can proceed forward with [Canales and general manager Dan Morgan] without needing to focus on finding another answer at quarterback.
For that, [I] am thankful. Now, the Panthers can work on building a competitive roster around their quarterback.