Bryce Young could turn out to be quite the NFL story of resilience.
The Panthers benched their former No. 1 overall pick midway through the 2024 season because he was playing miserably. But then when they brought him back at the end of the year, he performed admirably to provide strong hope for the future.
Now, Young will be eligible for a contract extension at the conclusion of the 2025 season. If he plays well, Carolina will have a big decision on its hands.
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports writes that Young is the best candidate to receive the next big extension from the Panthers.
“The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will be eligible for an extension after this season,” Sullivan writes. “He’ll likely receive some sort of extension, but if he carries his momentum from the end of last season into the entirety of 2025, he could get a larger number than some may think. For instance, fellow No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence lost 22 games over his first two seasons, just like Young has. Now, Lawrence is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, making $55 million per season. While Young may not reach that total, high enough to raise eyebrows.”
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That Lawrence contract is a very intriguing comparison. Young quarterbacks get paid, period.
Lawrence got five years and $275 million. If Young plays well this season, who’s to say he won’t get five years for a lower total, like $200 million? That would put him just ahead the likes of Geno Smith and Sam Darnold in terms of average annual value.
Young will likely have to look like a legitimately promising NFL quarterback for the whole 2025 season to earn such a deal, but it’s really not impossible. He looked good down the stretch of 2024, and now he’s got a potential No. 1 WR in Tetairoa McMillan to throw to.
Quarterback money is big money, and if Young proves he can be a franchise QB, he’ll get paid like one.
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