Two-time Pro Bowler reveals what he told Bryce Young after rough rookie season

During a Monday appearance on NFL Network's "The Insiders" program, Carolina Panthers wide receiver and two-time Pro Bowl selection Adam Thielen shared some advice he offered quarterback Bryce Young following Young's rough rookie season.

"I told Bryce after the season was over, I said, 'I know this was a difficult season for you and many others,' but I think it's the best thing that could happen to him," Thielen explained, per Michael Baca of the NFL's website. "I truly believe he's going to look back 10 years or 15 years from now and he's going to say, 'I'm so glad that happened my rookie year, the adversity that I had to face.'"

Thielen has repeatedly defended Young after the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft experienced more downs than ups as a first-year pro. According to Pro-Football-Reference, Young finished last season ranked 30th in the NFL with a 33.4 adjusted QBR, 32nd with a 73.7 passer rating and tied for 31st with a 36.5% passing success rate.

Panthers owner David Tepper fired head coach Frank Reich in late November, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales became Young's second NFL coach this offseason. Canales noted following spring workouts that he believes Young has "everything we need" to become a winning quarterback at the highest level, and Thielen is confident all that occurred last season will ultimately help Young reach his ceiling.

"The things that were out of his control that happened, I really think made him a stronger leader, stronger person, stronger man," Thielen added. "I'm really excited to see him take what happened last year and really build off of it. Take some of the positives and learn from the negatives as a team as well. I'm really excited to see his career unfold and I'm glad and very excited to be a part of the first few years to see what happens."

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Panthers at +550 betting odds to make the playoffs this coming season. Young may not have a "postseason or bust" mantra hovering over him ahead of training camp, but the 22-year-old must take several steps in a positive direction through January to ensure he'll be atop Carolina's depth chart at this time next year.