Bryce Young Can Prove Quarterback Rankings Wrong in 2026

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Bryce Young Can Prove Quarterback Rankings Wrong in 2026

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Bryce Lazenby | Last updated Sep 9, 2026 3:15 PM ET

Bryce Young has an incredible amount of pressure on him as he prepares for the 2026 season.

Not only does his team, the Carolina Panthers, have high expectations after winning the NFC South in 2025, but he’s also playing for his football life. Young is set to play on the fifth-year option in 2027 before hitting free agency, and he’d love to get an extension before then.

The Panthers have thus far been reluctant to commit to Young. Dave Canales has publicly backed him, but team brass feels like they need to see more. If the 2026 season goes off the rails, it’s hard to imagine Young getting that extension.

Diante Lee of The Ringer recently ranked each team’s quarterback room. Not only was the quality of the starter measured, but also the quality of the backup, the financial situation, and the future.

Lee has the Panthers’ trio of Young, Kenny Pickett, and Haynes King way down at No. 23.

“The Panthers aren’t spending much money at quarterback. But overall, the QB room is uninspiring,” Lee said. “The problem for Carolina is that it doesn’t appear to be positioned to quickly pivot away from Young and find a better player or better contract value in the near future.”

I’m here to tell you that Young is being written off far too soon this offseason.

Why Young Can Succeed in 2026

Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) reflects before an NFC Wild Card Round game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Young just had his best NFL season in 2025. To no surprise, the quarterback’s best season came when he had his best supporting cast. Young had a solid offensive line, a 1,000-yard rusher, and a true No. 1 receiver.

For the most part, Young’s supporting cast has been atrocious in the NFL. It’s still not where it should be, but it’s much better than it was two years ago. With another offseason of development, Young should only get better with this offense.

This also may surprise some people, but Young has actually been one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league over the last three years. True, it helps that the Panthers play so many close games, but there’s no denying that Young has been great in crunch time.

Young has multiple seasons of experience with this coaching staff now, so we could see another jump in 2026. With a solid line and ground game, and an elite top target, Young could set some more personal bests this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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