Picking up quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option was a no-brainer move by the Carolina Panthers. His progress during the 2025 campaign dictated nothing less, but speculation continues to rise around a longer-term commitment ahead of time.
Reports suggest the Panthers will let Young play out the 2026 season before deciding on further action. He's got two more years left on his rookie contract after the option was triggered, which gives Carolina some breathing space before making a much larger commitment.
That may be the approach, but in a conversation with Kay Adams at the NFL's annual league meeting, general manager Dan Morgan gave the biggest hint yet that Young will be a core part of the team's plans moving forward.
Dan Morgan outlines Carolina Panthers' supreme faith in Bryce Young as contract rumors grow
During his appearance on the Up and Adams Show, it's clear that Morgan holds Young in high esteem. The front-office leader believes the strides being made on and off the field couldn't be more encouraging. They are still working through the timing, but it seems a new deal is a foregone conclusion at this point.
"Bryce [Young] is definitely our future. We have a ton of belief in him. I think you can see by what we're doing around him. We're building around him and what he does. He's just a special guy, just the way he carries himself in the building every day. The leader that he's becoming. The command that he's taken of the offense.
"Those are things that we are still talking through, trying to figure out the timing on. But like I said, Bryce is definitely part of our future plans, and he's a big part of the future plans. We're excited about where he's going."
Not everyone is bought in on Young just yet. Some sections of the fan base are skeptical about giving him a deal that could run $40-50 million per year, which is understandable given his rollercoaster NFL journey to date. At the same time, the growth over the last two campaigns, especially after being benched just two games into Dave Canales' tenure, has given the Panthers a much-needed spark.
The Panthers made a massive commitment to Young, giving up a king's ransom that eventually included the No. 1 pick in 2024 to move up and take him. A long-term extension, formally making him Carolina's franchise player, was always the best-case scenario.
Just when that'll happen is anyone's guess. It may end up being a wait-and-see scenario. Carolina might want to see if Young can string together consecutive good seasons. That would cost them a lot more in the long run, but it at least provides a sense of security before making such a massive financial commitment.
Morgan has unrivaled confidence in Young. If everything goes as planned, both will be around for a long time.