When should the Carolina Panthers extend Bryce Young’s contract?

The NFL offseason has officially entered the OTA phase as minicamps and training camps draw closer. After a busy free agency period and NFL Draft, teams across the league are focused on building rosters capable of competing in 2026.

The Carolina Panthers are coming off an unexpected playoff run in 2025. They nearly upset the Los Angeles Rams at home in the Wild Card round.

Much of that progress has centered around quarterback Bryce Young. After exercising his fifth-year option this offseason, general manager Dan Morgan indicated the organization is open to discussing a long-term extension. The bigger question, however, is whether the Panthers should prioritize an extension now? Or wait to see how Young performs in 2026?

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Young has improved each season since the Panthers selected him first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft after trading up to acquire the pick.

Still, his development has not been without setbacks. Following a difficult rookie campaign, the former Alabama standout was briefly benched during his second season. That move, however, may have helped spark his turnaround.

Since returning from the benching in 2024, Young has thrown 38 touchdowns against just 17 interceptions. That marks a significant improvement from the 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions he recorded during his rookie season and the start of the 2024 campaign.

Despite that progress, the Panthers still need to see another leap from Young before committing to a massive extension. Waiting until next offseason to negotiate a new deal could make the most sense for the franchise.