At first glance, these voluntary offseason workouts might not seem all that demanding in terms of football activities—players aren’t out on the field every day, and there’s no actual football being used.
Still, with most of the roster showing up this week, the foundation of the 2025 Panthers is already beginning to take shape.
“Yeah, it’s voluntary, but we genuinely want to be here,” quarterback Bryce Young said . “Seeing the kind of turnout we’ve had really shows the commitment to what we’re trying to build. It means a lot to have that level of buy-in from the team.
“I’m proud to be part of this. We know there’s a lot of work ahead, but that’s the mindset across the board—everyone’s locked in and ready to improve.”
Staying locked in on the first week of workouts means tuning out another major event taking place this week: the NFL Draft. The Panthers hold the No. 8 overall pick and have nine selections in total, including eight in the first five rounds. With strong draft classes at edge rusher, wide receiver, and safety, Carolina has plenty of options to consider. Still, Bryce Young isn’t letting the draft distract him.
“It’s really just a wait-and-see thing,” Young said. “The front office and coaching staff handle all the draft decisions, so until we actually know who’s joining the team—you know, as a quarterback and a leader, you want to start building relationships and learning about your new teammates, especially the offensive guys. But right now, we don’t know who that’ll be. So for us, it’s just business as usual. Once we have names and faces, then we’ll dive into that.”
While Young isn’t focused on the draft at the moment, it wasn’t long ago—just two years—when he was in that same spotlight, taken No. 1 overall out of Alabama and handed the responsibility of leading a franchise.
After a rookie season that showed some struggles, Young bounced back in 2024. From Week 8 through the end of the season, he completed 197 of 319 passes (61.8 percent) for 2,104 yards, with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, posting an 88.9 passer rating. He also led game-tying or game-winning drives in six of the final nine games.
Coach Dave Canales has frequently praised Young for his consistency throughout a challenging season, which included a tough loss to the Saints in Week 1, a benching after Week 2, a return to the starting role following Andy Dalton’s car accident, and ultimately holding onto the starting position without wavering.
That consistency was critical, and it’s also the core piece of advice Young has for anyone about to be drafted in the first round tomorrow night.
“Just be yourself,” Young said. “Of course, you want to buy into the system and learn at the next level, but everyone who’s made it this far has earned it for a reason. Embrace that, stay true to yourself, and while it’s important to fit into the system, don’t forget what makes you unique—the qualities that got you here.”
Xavier Legette is another example of someone who hasn’t changed what brought them success. The former South Carolina wide receiver was selected 32nd overall last year after the Panthers traded into the first round to land the tall, physical pass catcher. As a rookie, Legette had his share of big moments, viral memes, and humbling experiences. While those moments sometimes affected his approach to practice, his country charm remained constant, providing a sense of calm that Bryce Young has already noticed.
“You can see the focus throughout the offseason; he’s been here working and getting better, and you can just see how comfortable he is,” Young said about Legette. “It’s different from someone who’s still trying to adjust to a new playbook, league, and the little details that come with it.”
“You can tell now that he’s comfortable, confident, and the way he’s moving, running routes, and catching the ball—all of it looks great. I’m super excited for him, and as a team and offense, we’re all really excited for him and for the unit.”
For the offense as a whole, this week marks the beginning of a new season. By the end of the week, there may be new additions to the team. Regardless of who that might be, Bryce Young is ready to welcome them into a group that now feels established, with a solid foundation, a clear plan, and a defined identity.
“Now that it’s the second year, we’ve worked out the kinks and started to form an identity,” Young said. “Now, it’s about building on those details early on and having those conversations sooner so that we can develop a deeper foundation, now that we’re in year two of the system.”