Bryce Young is a polarizing figure. The Carolina Panthers still believe in the quarterback, though not yet enough to give him another lucrative long-term commitment from the franchise.
It's a prove-it year in every sense of the term. And before the stakes get raised for Young, the FanSided team of experts lets their feelings be known about where the former Alabama standout truly stands.
The annual FanSided Quarterback Rankings cited the opinions of site editors throughout the NFL division. They marked every quarterback who made a roster from 1-12, based on their outlook for 2026. Young came in at No. 25 with a 7.62 score. And it was in the game manager category.
Bryce Young's game-manager label is something the Carolina Panthers can live with
It's not a stand-alone opinion, either.
I was asked to write some thoughts on Young for the interactive ranking. Here's what I came up with:
"Surprise! Bryce Young lands in the game-manager category. He's got his critics, most of whom can't get off their pre-draft projections despite his obvious growth over the last two years. But with a lucrative contract extension at stake, much more is needed this season.
"Young can make things happen, and he shines more than the lights are brightest. His deep ball accuracy is underrated, and his growing voice as a leader has everyone following his lead. Is he the finished product? Of course not, but there is far more faith in his potential within the building than outside of it. Consistency is the key."
This seems like a pretty fair assessment of where Young is before he embarks on a critical Year 4 of his professional career.
Most analysts believe there is still a lot of hard work ahead for Young, and they're right.
There are times when he looks like one of the league's best, especially when the pressure builds in tight games. There are other times when he looks like one of the league's worst, though the gap is narrowing between the highs and lows.
Bryce Young must find some consistent middle ground to secure Carolina Panthers extension
Finding some middle ground with improved performances for longer stretches will be key.
This is arguably the best supporting cast he's ever had in terms of pass-catchers and running backs. Even though the Panthers are without their starting tackle tandem of Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, rookie first-rounder Monroe Freeling and veteran free-agent signing Rasheed Walker look capable of filling the void.
Couple this with substantial defensive reinforcements, and the Panthers look primed to make a bold NFC South title defense.
But this team will go as far as Young takes them.
The talent is there. Young is growing as a leader. He feels comfortable being the franchise guy, and everyone is rallying behind him.
And if the desired improvements materialize, the Panthers will reward him with a bumper new contract extension in the $35-45 million per year range.
Being a game manager isn't the worst thing in the world. Plenty of quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl with this tag on their shoulders. Young is held to higher standards as the No. 1 pick in 2023, but there is also a chance his ceiling is nowhere close to being reached.
We'll find out a lot more this season, that's for sure. But don't write off Young just yet.
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