NFL analyst says Panthers QB Bryce Young 'needs to prove' he's worth an extension

Most NFL fans still haven't had a chance to see Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young playing on his good days, of which there have admittedly been too few in his first three years in the league. But Young is slowly but steadily putting the pieces together—and when he flashes, we are finally seeing why he was a No. 1 overall pick in the first place.

The Panthers are helping by building up the supporting cast around him, which was arguably the worst in the NFL when Young was drafted in 2023. This offseason, they built up their offensive line and added another big target at wide receiver. Now, it's time for Young to show that he belongs and earn a long-term extension, per Jared Dubin at CBS Sports:

They brought in Chris Brazzell as another option at wide receiver. Carolina turned over the backup quarterback room, bringing in Kenny Pickett and Will Grier after the departure of Andy Dalton. Young already had his fifth-year option picked up, and needs to prove that season that he's worthy of a lucrative extension.

When it comes to taking that next step in his development, consistency is the name of the game for Young. We already know that he has an excellent deep ball and a genuine clutch gene. He has to prove that he can light up NFL defenses more than just two or three times a year.

The Panthers recently picked up Young's fifth-year option, which keeps him under contract through the 2027 season. This was the correct move, but it would be foolish to sign him to a long-term deal before he competes at his highest level more often.