Bryce Young wasn't just the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was also the player for whom the Carolina Panthers traded away multiple first and second round picks, along with Pro Bowl receiver D.J. Moore, to acquire.
The results so far have been mixed, to say the least. Young looked like he may be on his way out of the league after a rough rookie season. He was benched for Andy Dalton in year two. But a Dalton injury cleared a path back to the starting lineup. In 2025 he led six game winning drivesas Carolina won the NFC South (albeit with a 8-9 record) and nearly toppled the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
This inconsistency has him approaching a crossroad. Young remains on his rookie contract without the big money extension
typically given to young franchise quarterbacks. Backsliding in 2026 could leave him to twist in the wind and play out the final year of that deal in 2027. It could put head coach Dave Canales, responsible for Young's modest rise, on the hot seat.
Carolina took significant steps this offseason to bolster its roster and defend its division crown. What does that look like?
Key addition: EDGE Jaelan Phillips
The Panthers invested wisely in their offensive line, adding Rasheed Walker on a bargain one-year deal and drafting Monroe Freeling in the first round. But Carolina was 2-6 when Bryce Young had a pressure rate under 38 percent and 6-2 when it was higher, which suggests the most impactful change in the season that could determine head coach Dave Canales' future will come on defense.
Phillips is a risky acquisition; a $120 million deal with $60 million guaranteed for a player who missed 22 games between 2023 and 2024. But his 2025 saw him play a full season and record a pressure rate just under 16 percent. It won't take much to coax double-digit sacks from him… if he can stay healthy.
Key departure: RB Rico Dowdle
Carolina did strong work reinforcing its roster leading into the season that will ultimately decide whether the Bryce Young/Dave Canales era is worth sustaining. One potential weakness, however, lurks at running back. Dowdle remained found money in 2025, average 0.6 rush yards over expected (RYOE) per carry in a 1,000 yard campaign. Chuba Hubbard shared time with him and averaged -0.3 RYOE per touch.
Jonathon Brooks was a 2024 second round pick, but has nine below-average NFL handoffs to his credit in two seasons thanks to injury. Could Trevor Etienne, once healthy and back on the active roster, be the unlikely hero of this group?
Potential 2026 breakout player: EDGE Jaelan Phillips
A Phillips breakthrough would solidify my "not wrong, just early" take that he'd be a defensive player of the year candidate in 2023. That year, and the next one, were cut short by injury. But he had62 pressures and a shimmering 15.7 percent pressure rate, making him a borderline top-10 pocket-crumpler despite converting that to a single sack.
The counting stats will follow if he can stay healthy. That would go a long way justifying the $120 million contract Carolina gave him this offseason.
Position ranks
- QB rank (expected points added per dropback, via RBSDM.com): 25
- WR corps rank: 14
- RB corps rank: 29
- TE corps rank: 28
Will they improve in 2026?
Consider me cautiously optimistic. Carolina has the pieces to win the NFC South and even a playoff game (or two). The execution, however, remains in question.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Panthers 2026 season preview: Bryce Young's tipping point?
