NFL Rumors: Panthers Changed Offense '3 Times' Before Bryce Young's Rookie Season

Bryce Young struggled during his rookie season, hampered in part by poor offensive line play and a lack of quality weapons.

But the Carolina Panthers didn't exactly have a consistent plan in place for his rookie season either.

"We changed the offense three times in the offseason,'' a source close to Young's situation told ESPN's David Newton. "That's not gonna be beneficial for anybody, let alone a rookie quarterback. The philosophical alignment wasn't always there.''

The result was a rookie campaign that saw Young throw for 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 2,877 yards in 16 games, completing just 59.8 percent of his passes while taking a whopping 62 sacks. The Panthers were 2-14 in his starts.

"It's hard to evaluate [Young] just because of some of the stuff that happened in the offseason leading up to training camp that didn't really give Bryce the best opportunity to be ready and prepared for the season," a source told Newton.

The Panthers aggressively rebuilt their offensive line through free agency, signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and offensive tackle Yosh Nijman. They also added weapons for Young, trading for wideout Diontae Johnson and drafting running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, among other moves.

Nobody is expecting the Panthers to make the playoffs this season, but the hope is twofold: A better season than last year's dreadful 2-15 campaign, and a serious jump in progression from Young.

If the young quarterback is able to move past the struggles of year one—and there are plenty of indications that he will—the 2023 top overall pick should be just fine.

"If they are mentally tough, let them get the experience,'' a source told Newton. "I'm not worried about ruining someone mentally. If they are going to be your franchise quarterback for the next 12 to 15 years, they can handle it. If they can't handle it, they are not your franchise quarterback."