The Carolina Panthers appear increasingly optimistic about Bryce Young’s trajectory, and they have not been shy about signaling that confidence. The organization quickly clarified its intention to exercise Young’s fifth-year option and has even acknowledged that internal conversations about a possible contract extension have begun. Those moves suggest the front office believes its former No. 1 overall pick is trending in the right direction.
Among the fan base, however, opinions remain divided. Some supporters rate their confidence in Young near the top of the scale, while others remain firmly skeptical. That split has existed almost since the moment he was selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and it has persisted through the highs and lows of his early professional career.
To get a clearer sense of how those closest to the team feel, ESPN Panthers insider David Newton was asked to assess his confidence level in Young moving forward. Newton acknowledged that Young’s NFL journey has been uneven, but noted that the recent positives have been substantial enough to encourage belief both inside the building and among portions of the fan base. The results may not always be flashy, but the quarterback’s overall performance has been solid.
Newton ultimately rated his confidence in the Panthers’ quarterback situation at a 7.5. While that number might not sound overwhelming on its own, it actually ranked as the highest level of confidence given to any NFC South quarterback by ESPN’s divisional insiders. For comparison, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers writer gave Baker Mayfield a seven, the New Orleans Saints insider also landed at seven for breakout quarterback Tyler Shough, and the Atlanta Falcons writer assigned Michael Penix Jr. a five.
Explaining his reasoning, Newton said, “Newton: 7.5. Young was good enough that general manager Dan Morgan announced at his end-of-season news conference the team will pick up the fifth-year option of the top pick of the 2023 draft.” That decision alone reflects a meaningful organizational vote of confidence.
Still, Newton emphasized that the Panthers are not yet ready to fully commit long term. “As good as everyone felt about Young’s performance in a 34-31 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Panthers still lost their final three games and four of their last five,” he said. He also noted, “Young didn’t put up solid back-to-back games — or wins — since mid-October. His Total QBR (47.6) still ranked 22nd in the NFL.”
While that assessment can be debated, given Young’s strong finish in four of the final five weeks, Newton’s overall outlook remained relatively positive. Compared to the rest of the NFC South, the Panthers’ quarterback situation may be in better shape than many expect, and that quiet confidence could prove significant moving forward.