Bryce Young Praised By Panthers' Dave Canales Amid Contract Extension Buzz Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales had nothing but positive things to say about quarterback Bryce Young all while largely sidestepping conversations about his long-term future with the franchise.

During an appearance on Stephen A. Smith's Sirius XM show (h/t ESPN's Mike Kaye), Canales was asked whether Young is the team's franchise quarterback. It was a timely question since the signal-caller is eligible for an extension.

"He is right now," Canales said. "He's our guy—he's our guy, and I love the trajectory that he's on. And not just the stuff that he's growing in—from just an operational standpoint, moving the offense, finding chemistry and all that stuff—but it's also just the critical moments, you know? It's those games, it's the close games, it's the one-score game at the end."

Carolina did pick up Young's fifth-year option, which means he is under contract through the 2027 season.

"Whether we're up or down, I love having Bryce out there," Canales continued. I love that he stays cool, calm and collected and aggressive, and he attacks at the right time. So, all those things are pointing in the right direction—I'll just let the rest of the stuff just sort itself out, with all the conversations with his whole group and party and our front office here with [general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis] working that part out. But for me, especially now not calling plays, I get to just enjoy this road, help him improve on a daily basis and really take that input and get him to take the next step."

Young's contract situation is something of a conundrum for the Panthers.

On the one hand, he is just 14-30 as a starter in his career and hasn't exactly fully lived up to the expectations that were in place when the NFC South team selected him with the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft.

On the other hand, he is just 25 years old and coming off the best season of his career. If he takes another step during the 2026 season, he could command more money in those contract discussions.

Young completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 216 yards and two scores on the ground as a runner. He led the Panthers to a division title and their first playoff appearance since the 2017 campaign.

Another playoff appearance and division title could mean more money down the line for the quarterback.