The Carolina Panthers like what they've seen from former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. With Young three years into his NFL career, the franchise had a potentially tough decision to make about the quarterback's future entering the offseason.
But the Panthers got ahead of any potential drama, announcing Young's fifth-year option would be picked up, guaranteeing the quarterback remains under contract with the team through the 2027 NFL season.
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan confirmed the news Tuesday.
Panthers GM Dan Morgan said they will pickup Bryce Young's 5th year option for 2027. It will be fully guaranteed.Young had a bounce back 2025 season leading Panthers to 1st division title since 2015.pic.twitter.com/XrWPEyVFi7
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe)January 13, 2026
That decision was far from a guarantee. Despite the 24-year-old Young turning in an encouraging third season in the league, which saw him pass for a career-high 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns, his previous two years resulted in a lot of questions.
After being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Young turned in a disastrous rookie season, in which he tossed just 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 16 games.
In an attempt to kick-start Young's career, the Panthers hired offensive mastermind Dave Canales ahead of the quarterback's second season in the NFL. That partnership did not get off to the best start. With the Panthers struggling, Young was benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton after just two games. Canales challenged Young to be more aggressive and attack defenses after the move was made.
Young eventually got the starting job back and finished the season strong, tossing 15 touchdowns against six interceptions over the final 10 games. He made use of his legs, rushing for 226 yards and five scores over that period. It was the best Young had looked to that point in his career.
That 10-game stretch was enough to elevate Young as the team's undisputed starter heading into 2025. He rewarded the Panthers with a career-best year and helped lead the team to its first NFC South crown since 2015. Coming off that performance, the Panthers felt good about picking up Young's fifth-year option for 2027.
Despite the fact that Young still had a year on his rookie contract, the Panthers needed to make a decision on Young's fifth-year option now. Under the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement, teams must declare whether they are exercising a player's fifth-year option after their third season in the NFL, but before May 1 of the following league year. Only former first-round draft picks are eligible to receive fifth-year options under the current CBA.
In doing so, the Panthers fully guaranteed Young's 2027 salary. Fifth-year option costs can vary based on multiple criteria, though OvertheCap.com projectsYoung to make roughly $27 million in 2027.
That's a high price to pay for a quarterback who spent his first year and a half in the NFL looking like a bust. But if Young can build off his 2025 momentum and unlock another level to his game, that salary will look like a bargain compared to other quarterbacks around the league.
And if Young manages to justify that salary in 2027, it won't be long before he'll join those other quarterbacks as one of the top-paid players in the game. But that all depends on whether Young can continue to show improvement over the next two seasons.
