Panthers Announce Decision On Bryce Young Following Playoff Loss

This confirms a report from Schefter this past weekend that they would do so. It continues a trend of quarterbacks going first overall getting their fifth-year options picked up.

"Carolina is expected to pick up the fifth-year option on QB Bryce Young’s contract this off-season, which is typical. As @EpKap pointed out, of the eight QBs picked No. 1 overall since 2011, there never has been a QB drafted No. 1 overall whose fifth-year option wasn’t picked up," Schefter wrote on Saturday.

Young's Ascension

Young rose to prominence as starting quarterback of the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2021 to 2022. He won the Heisman Trophy with the Tide as a sophomore after winning a national title as backup to Mac Jones the year before.

Young's early career with the Panthers was marred by top-to-bottom organizational issues. He went 2-14 as a starter in 2023, taking a whopping 62 sacks that year. The team fired most of the top staff and brought in Dave Canales as the new head coach, and in 2024 Young responded with marginal growth and a 4-8 record.

But 2025 saw Young finally deliver on some of his potential. He finished this season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and took just 27 sacks. Most importantly, he won eight games and led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, ending the franchise's longest playoff drought in the process.