Bryce Young Rumors: Panthers Not Expected to Pick a New QB Early in 2025 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers benched Bryce Young earlier this season, calling into question his future with the team. But since returning to the starting lineup, the young quarterback has reaffirmed the initial belief in his upside and has potentially secured his short-term future in Carolina.

"Now that he is back in the lineup, has gone 2-2, my understanding is that's gone a long way in showing the Panthers organization why they took him No. 1 overall," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday. "He's getting in and out of the huddle better. He's diagnosing defenses better, and simply, he is playing better. As far as the future goes, from what I understand, do not expect the Panthers to draft a quarterback early next year. It does seem—if Young continues to progress as he's been—that he has earned the opportunity to be their starter next year, and everyone hopes, beyond."

Young entered the NFL with the weight of expectation planted firmly on his shoulders after the Panthers traded a treasure chest of future assets to move up to the No. 1 overall pick at the 2023 draft.

What the Panthers didn't do, however, was surround him with much talent on the offensive side of the ball, and his rookie season was rough. He finished throwing for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, completing just 59.8 percent of his passes while taking a whopping 62 sacks. He was constantly under siege due to a porous offensive line, and his playmakers out wide didn't do him many favors. His pocket presence and decision-making suffered as a result.

Things didn't look much better early in the 2024 season.

In a season-opening 47-10 loss against the New Orleans Saints, Young finished 13-of-30 for 161 yards, two interceptions and four sacks taken. A week later, he threw for just 84 yards and an interception, taking two sacks.

The Panthers had seen enough and chose to bench him in favor of Andy Dalton. That lasted for five games before Dalton sprained his thumb in a car crash. In the four games since Young was reinstated as the starter, he's thrown for 784 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, taking six sacks.

The Panthers are 2-2 in those games and gave the Kansas City Chiefs all they could handle last week, losing 30-27 on a field goal as time expired. Young has looked like a different player during the four-game stretch.

"Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities," head coach Dave Canales told reporters after the Kansas City loss. "And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today."

"For me, I just want to focus on what I can control," Young added at the time. "Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence."

For the Panthers, this uptick in performance is more than welcomed. For one, it means they can focus on other parts of the roster in the 2025 NFL draft, hoping Young continues to develop. But it might also mean that the huge price they paid to take Young in the first place isn't eventually regarded as one of the worst trades in NFL history, setting back the franchise for years to come.

The jury is still out on both that deal and Young's future. But the last four games, at least, have provided some reason for optimism.