Carolina Panthers Pick Up 5th Year Option On QB Bryce Young After Strong Season
The Carolina Panthers have made a definitive statement about their franchise quarterback. General Manager Dan Morgan confirmed on Tuesday that the team will exercise the fifth-year option on Bryce Young’s rookie contract, locking the former No. 1 overall pick into the organization through the 2027 NFL season.
Carolina Panthers Pick Up Bryce Young Option
This move guarantees Young a projected salary of roughly $27 million for the 2027 season and signals that the Panthers believe they have finally found their long-term answer under center. After a turbulent start to his professional career, Young’s resurgence in his third season has seemingly solidified his standing as the leader of the franchise.
A Career Turned Around
The decision to commit to Young long-term was far from a certainty just a year ago. After being selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft—a move that cost the Panthers a massive haul of draft capital and wide receiver DJ Moore—Young struggled mightily out of the gate. His rookie campaign was marred by a lack of supporting talent and offensive cohesion, resulting in just 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
The situation appeared to worsen early in his second season when new head coach Dave Canales benched Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton after just two games. However, that benching proved to be a pivotal turning point. Young eventually reclaimed the starting job and closed out his sophomore year strong, throwing 15 touchdowns over the final 10 games.
That momentum carried into a breakout 2025 season. Young posted career highs across the board, throwing for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to an 8-9 record and their first NFC South title since 2015. Although the season ended with a narrow 34-31 Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Young’s performance—including 264 passing yards and two total touchdowns in that playoff debut—was enough to convince the front office of his trajectory.
Financial Implications and Roster Planning
By exercising the option now, the Panthers are getting ahead of the May deadline and providing clarity for their salary cap future. The fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, meaning the team is now on the hook for that 2027 salary regardless of injury or performance.
While $27 million is a significant figure, it represents a potential bargain in a quarterback market where top-tier starters comfortably command over $50 million annually. If Young continues his upward trend, this price tag will allow Carolina to continue building a competitive roster around him before potentially negotiating a massive extension down the road.
Stability for the Franchise
For a team that has cycled through quarterbacks and coaches relentlessly over the last decade, this move offers much-needed stability. Exercising the option quiets any offseason speculation about the quarterback position and allows Dan Morgan and Dave Canales to focus on surrounding Young with talent.
The Carolina Panthers have seen the benefits of patience. Young has developed from a struggling rookie into a playoff quarterback capable of executing game-winning drives—he recorded six such drives in 2025 alone. With his contract status settled for the next two seasons, the pressure shifts from job security to performance.
The message from Charlotte is clear: The Bryce Young era is here to stay, at least for now. They did not give him a long-term extension but a one-year prove-it deal. The former number one overall pick will have to show this year wasn’t a fluke in order to secure a huge deal.
