Panthers' Dave Canales discusses future of Bryce Young

While the Carolina Panthers picked up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to the contract for starting quarterback Bryce Young, there has been no indication that the club has considered making a long-term commitment to him before the upcoming season gets underway. 

During a recent interview with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said plenty by what he didn't say about Young. 

Bryce Young getting "right now" treatment from Panthers

Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Smith asked Canales if the Panthers view Young as their franchise quarterback. 

"He is right now," Canales interestingly responded. "He’s our guy. He’s our guy, and I love the trajectory that he’s on. And not just the stuff that he’s growing in, from just an operational standpoint, moving the offense, finding chemistry and all that, but it’s also just the critical moments. It’s those games, it’s the close games, it’s the one-score game at the end. Whether we’re up or down, I love having Bryce out there. I love that he stays cool, calm, and collected and aggressive, and he attacks at the right time. So, all those things are pointing in the right direction." 

Throughout 2026, numerous members of the NFL community have warned the Panthers about going all-in on Young after Carolina made the playoffs last season by winning the woeful NFC South with a record of 8-9. Young was benched early in the 2024 season due to poor play, and Mike Kaye of ESPN noted that the first overall pick of the 2023 draft has since gone 12-14 as Carolina's QB1. 

Per Pro Football Reference, Young finished the 2025 regular season ranked 25th in the league among qualified players with a 47.6 adjusted QBR and tied for 26th with an 87.8 passer rating. 

Dave Canales stops short of campaigning for Bryce Young to get paid

Canales could have used this conversation as an opportunity to campaign for the Panthers to lock Young down. The coach instead went in a different direction. 

"I'll just let the rest of the stuff just sort itself out, with all the conversations with his whole group and party and our front office here with [general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis] working that part out," Canales added about Young's uncertain future. "But for me, especially now not calling plays, I get to just enjoy this road, help him improve on a daily basis and really take that input and get him to take the next step."

Canales has handed offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. Meanwhile, it continues to sound like the Panthers aren't in a hurry to do a deal with Young before he starts the fourth season of his young career.