Watch: Panthers quarterback Bryce Young impresses in touchdown drive

He stood tall in the pocket on his eight-yard touchdown to Jordan Matthews, delivering a quick strike on a three-step drop.

Young didn't play in the Panthers' first two preseason games under first-year head coach Dave Canales.

While the Bills kept his top players out of the game, Young's performance is nothing to scoff at.

Does it mean he'll live up to his draft status? No. But it was the type of performance a No. 1 overall draft pick should have against players jockeying for roster spots.

Last season, Young was near the bottom of the league in several quarterback metrics. He finished the year 315-of-527 (59.8 percent) for 2,877 yards (5.5 yards per attempt), 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Panthers averaged 13.1 points per game in his 16 starts.

Canales has built a reputation as an exceptional quarterbacks coach by leading Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield to new heights over the past two seasons.

Smith led the league in completion percentage (69.8 percent) and posted career-highs in yards (4,282) and touchdowns (30) in 2022 with Canales as his quarterbacks coach.

Last season, Mayfield had career-highs in completion percentage (64.3 (percent), passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28) in Canales' first year as Bucs offensive coordinator.

It was only one drive, but Young gave the Panthers reason to believe he could experience the same breakthrough.