Panthers, Bryce Young due for breakout in upcoming season

"The Bryce Young resurgence wasn’t just a feel-good story last season; he was legitimately playing some good football and displaying the intelligence and play-making ability that made him a No. 1 overall pick," Nguyen wrote.

"Notably, his ability to avoid sacks was drastically improved last season from his rookie year. According to Pro Football Focus, in 2023, Young ranked 38th in pressure-to-sack rate — 24.5 percent of the plays in which he was pressured became sacks. In 2024, he improved to 13th in pressure-to-sack rate (16.9 percent). Some thought his small stature would make it hard to get away from NFL pass rushers, but he’s shown he can excel at creating plays. However, he’s not reliant on out-of-structure plays — he’s reading defenses and making quick decisions when needed."

The first season of Young's career was overwhelming, and the mid-season coaching change did nothing to help his development.

In Year 2, Young struggled as well, but he learned from his mistakes and applied it to his game.

Now entering his third year in the league, Young has the tools he needs to succeed and lead the Panthers back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.