2026 will be a make-or-break type of season for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. While he's still under contract through the 2027 campaign, the front office probably won't want to wait until the last minute to make a long-term decision about his future with the franchise.
If Young takes another big step forward in his development, the organization should have no problem giving him a contract extension. However, if Young continues to flounder more often than not—and not because his supporting cast lets him down—the Panthers will be within their rights to explore other options, including picking a new passer in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That's what Seth Walder at ESPN is predicting they will do as part of their Future Power Rankings piece. Walder forecasts:
The Panthers will draft a quarterback in the first round in 2027. This might not even qualify as that bold, really. Carolina has -- rightfully, in my opinion -- not extended Young's contract beyond his fifth-year option. Faced with a strong rookie quarterback class next year, there's a chance the Panthers think they'll have a better future with a fresh start at QB.
Drafting a quarterback early is always a risky move, but if Young doesn't break out this year it's probably the right one to make. The 2027 class is loaded with strong prospects, too.
Although the Panthers likely won't be bad enough to nab one of the top two prospects in Texas' Arch Manning or Oregon's Dante Moore, there will be a handful of other intriguing options. Some possibilities may include Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Miami's Darian Mensah, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Minnesota's Drake Lindsey and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers—all of whom might come off the board within the top 50 picks.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: ESPN predicts Panthers will make big move at QB in 2027
