NFL Analysis
11/25/24
5 min read
Bryce Young's Redemption Means Panthers Could Pass on 2025 NFL Draft Quarterbacks
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young could have faded into irrelevancy earlier this season. However, during the last few weeks, the former No. 1 overall pick has looked more like a starting-caliber quarterback.
In a spirited attempt to take down the Kansas City Chiefs, Young led a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. A game-winning field goal by the Chiefs ended the hopes of an upset, but the Panthers kept it close the whole way in a 30-27 loss.
Young's box score numbers won't blow anyone away. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards and one touchdown. However, the film showed a completely different quarterback than the ones the Panthers saw last season and at the start of this year, which suggests that the Panthers might want to consider giving him another chance to be the guy in 2025.
Young's Turnaround
Going up against one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, Young held his own in a duel against Patrick Mahomes.
In fact, according to RBSDM, the two quarterbacks had nearly identical EPA per dropback numbers in Sunday's game.
Pro Football Focus was just as high on Young. According to their grading, Young posted a career-high five big-time throws compared to only one turnover-worthy play.
His time to throw was near average compared to this season's average, but his average depth of target was significantly higher, showing his willingness to push the ball vertically.
Young's passing charts haven't looked this clean ever, but the emergence of some key weapons on the offense has unlocked things for Carolina's offense. Rookie WR Xavier Legette and rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders have started to find their groove in recent weeks with Young under center.
Even Jalen Coker, an undrafted rookie out of Holy Cross, is having a terrific rookie season. All three rookies are currently above average among first-year pass catchers in the NFLA in EPA per target, while Sanders boasts one of the better catch rates among rookies.
Young is starting to grow with his young pass catchers, and it's giving him trust in them to throw their way when the pocket is collapsing. The former No. 1 pick posted an all-time bad season when under pressure as a rookie in 2023, completing 39.1 percent of his passes with one touchdown and four interceptions for a 43.4 passer rating.
Young has improved on those numbers under pressure, but the bigger turnaround is how he's avoided sacks and handled the blitz. His pressure-to-sack ratio has gone from 24.5 percent in 2023 down to just 17.3 this season. Meanwhile, he's posting a solid 84.5 passer rating against the blitz, including a 132.1 passer rating against extra rushers on Sunday, completing 11-of-14 passes for 140 yards and a score.
Young's performance against the Chiefs on Sunday might have been the best performance of a quarterback facing Kansas City all season, even if the stats don't back that up.
Not only the best game of Bryce Young's career, but one of the best QB performances of this season pic.twitter.com/8AUFWkhaFc
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) November 25, 2024
Although Young's size will always be a knock against him, the poise and decisiveness he showed against a Super Bowl-winning defense is a complete turnaround from what the Panthers saw in the past from their young quarterback.
It should be enough to help Young earn the benefit of the doubt to have the Panthers build around him this offseason.
The Panthers Shouldn't want a QB
Even if the Panthers aren't sold on Young as the long-term answer, they might be better off waiting another year before going after a quarterback.
The Panthers' realistic quarterback options this offseason aren't great. The free agency class will likely be headlined by an aging veteran in Aaron Rodgers and a pair of unproven veterans in Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold, the latter of whom played for Carolina just a few seasons ago.
This year's draft class isn't much better. The 2025 NFL Draft will feature some interesting names like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, along with a couple of players who could decide to go pro, Jalen Milroe and Garrett Nussmeier.
However, according to the consensus big board, neither Ward nor Sanders are considered top-10 prospects. Instead, this class is loaded with top-tier defensive talent and some exciting skill players like Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan.
The Panthers would be better off waiting for the 2026 draft if they want to consider taking another quarterback. If things go south with Young and Carolina struggles again next season, the Panthers could be in a position to take a quarterback prospect like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, or Nico Iamaleava.
Manning will likely be the No. 1 pick in 2026 based on the flashes fans have seen at Texas and the family connection with Peyton and Eli Manning.
Listen, Arch Manning wasn't perfect last week, and UTSA helped too, including a safety falling down on a TD.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 19, 2024
But this throw? C'mon! pic.twitter.com/tfl2gQgBy1
Other quarterback prospects will certainly break out next season, but it's already gearing up to be a strong quarterback class in 2026. The Panthers could be in a win-win scenario by letting Young figure stuff out next season.
If Young plays at a high level in 2026, the Panthers won't have to think about quarterback options anymore, and if he struggles, then they should be right back in position to take another top quarterback in the draft.
