Why Panthers' Bryce Young doesn't like discussing rough rookie season

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young isn't big on speaking about the struggles he endured across his rookie season but not because he's lacking confidence in himself.

"I'm big on controlling what I can control and making sure that that's what's focusing," Young told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports for a piece published Wednesday. "Whatever happened the past year -- the good, the bad, whatever. It's not something that I can control. It's not something that holds sway over what we're doing anymore. So I think the more energy you put on stuff that doesn't have any effect on what we're trying to be. You can take away from the goal in itself."

According to Pro Football Reference, Young finished his first pro regular season, which included the firing of head coach Frank Reich in late November, ranked 30th in the league among qualified players with a 33.4 adjusted QBR. The first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft tossed 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions over 16 games.

Putting the past behind him has become a recurring theme regarding Young's development this offseason. After all, it's a new day in Carolina with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales serving as Reich's full-time replacement. 

Following the hiring of Canales, the Panthers regime signed guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, traded for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and landed receiver Xavier Legette (pick No. 32) along with running back Jonathon Brooks (No. 46) during the draft.

Much has been made since the start of springtime workouts about Young being more comfortable with the Panthers as a second-year pro. He admitted to Jones that his previous attempts "to suppress everything and stay flatline" failed to produce positive results for anyone involved.

"And nowadays I kind of allow myself to have temporary [moments] of I'm too negative or I'll say something that I'll be super silly," Young added. "And I allow myself to do that as long as I can reel myself back in. It kind of makes it easier to stabilize versus just trying to be more flatline."

Young needed and probably deserved somewhat of a reset coming off a rookie season filled with problems that impacted his growth as a QB1. 

Canales is all-in on helping to eliminate negative aspects of Young's game, but the situation could change as soon as January 2025 if the 22-year-old fails to impress this coming season.