Panthers Rumors on Bryce Young's 5th-Year Contract Option Ahead of NFL Playoffs Debut

The Carolina Panthers are expected to exercise the fifth-year option in quarterback Bryce Young's contract this coming offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Per ESPN's Evan Kaplan (h/t Schefter), every quarterback selected first overall in the NFL draft since 2011 has had their fifth-year option picked up.

In his third NFL season, Young led the Panthers to an 8-9 record and the NFC South title. On Saturday, they will host the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC Wild Card Round playoff game, marking Young's first postseason appearance.

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After winning the Heisman Trophy at Alabama in 2021, Young went first overall to the Panthers in the 2023 NFL draft.

He has gone through his fair share of growing pains, especially over the course of his first two NFL seasons.

As a rookie, Young went 2-14 as a starter and completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He followed that up with a 4-8 record last season to go along with a completion percentage of 60.9 percent, 2,403 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine picks, as well as 249 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Young lost his starting job to veteran Andy Dalton for a period of time last season, but he won it back and performed well down the stretch, throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions over his final three starts.

As a result, Young entered 2025 as the unquestioned starter, and he went on to enjoy the best season of his career by far.

Young went 8-8 in his 16 starts, completed 63.6 percent of his passes and set career highs with 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns, while throwing 11 picks. He also rushed for 216 yards and two scores.

The Panthers are entering the playoffs on a low note, as they have lost back-to-back games, including a 16-14 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

Carolina could have clinched the NFC South with a win over Tampa, but it instead required the Atlanta Falcons to beat the New Orleans Saints in order to make the postseason.

Regardless, Young and the Panthers have accomplished much more than most expected this season, as they are in the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Young has a lot of developing left to do before he can be viewed as one of the better starting quarterbacks in the league, but he undoubtedly did enough this season to earn an extended look.

Should the Panthers indeed exercise the fifth-year option in Young's contract, it will tie him to the organization through 2027.