Why Bryce Young can still live up to expectations

Thielen references Young’s baptism by fire in 2023, touching on the difficulties of the quick turnaround that rookie quarterbacks face. With limited time to learn the playbook and grow accustomed to the roster, many first-year quarterbacks are simply set up for failure.

Even the best young signal-callers need adequate help around them in order to succeed. It’s hard to imagine that C.J. Stroud, as talented as he is, would’ve found nearly as much success had he found himself in Young’s shoes.

The truth is, we haven’t seen what Young can do as an NFL quarterback. He faced immediate pressure on a consistent basis as a rookie, only to be met by smothered receivers when he did find time to throw.

One certainty is that the talent that made Young the first overall pick hasn’t vanished. He was taken over every player in his draft class, and before that, awarded the Heisman trophy over every player in college football.

It’s undeniable that the talent is there with Young. The question is whether he’ll acclimate to the pro level and return to the dominant form he showcased at Alabama.

If he doesn’t, Carolina will have some tough decisions to make. The Panthers will likely be at the top of another draft, with high-end prospects staring them in the face. 

Plenty of franchises have been quick to swap out a young quarterback when they felt like a better option was on the table. Some recent instances of this include Caleb Williams replacing Justin Fields and Kyler Murray replacing Josh Rosen.

Knowing this is a possibility will likely place added pressure on Young. The franchise seems committed to him, but longevity is reliant on success.

All things considered, we should disregard Young’s rookie season. With a far better situation and a need to prove his worth, 2024 will show if he’s truly cut out for NFL football.