All rookies go through growing pains in the NFL, and Bryce Young sure went through his share in year one with the Carolina Panthers.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick out of Alabama, Young led the Panthers to just two wins in his 16 starts. He threw for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 59.8% passing. While not ideal, Carolina certainly isn’t giving up on Young. The Panthers underwent wholesale changes on their coaching staff, notably hiring former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as head coach.
Canales’ job is to get the best out of Young, and running back Chuba Hubbard said Thursday he believes the 23-year-old is “gonna show everyone this year.”
“As an offense, I feel like we improve,” Hubbard said. “Bryce continues to do great every single practice. I’ve kind of said it over and over, I don’t wanna speak too much on it. Everyone’s had their criticism on him. He’s gonna show everyone this year.”
Panthers give Bryce Young multiple offensive weapons in 2nd NFL season
The Panthers have been hard at work this offseason putting pieces around Young. Along with Hubbard, Carolina has second round selection Jonathon Brooks in the backfield once he comes off the PUP list. Carolina also acquired wideout Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers and took South Carolina’s Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall pick.
In theory, the only way to go for both Young and the Panthers is up. Young already feels the impact of having Canales in his ear, which should bode well for his chances to impress in 2024. Canales notably helped Baker Mayfield become a Pro Bowler in Tampa Bay, and Geno Smith the same the year prior with the Seattle Seahawks.
“It’s great. I think he’s done a great job of — his approach towards it was, at first, he was transparent,” Young said last week. “Like, we’re going to have these concepts and we’re going to have a day one install. The first time we’ve seen it, when we first came together, first week of phase one, we’re going to walk through things or jog through things whatever it may be, but we’re going to stick to the drawings, we’re going to figure that out.
“And then, alright, this is our second time through. So now we can get to that 200-level teaching of alright, here’s the little nuances of routes, here’s the concepts. Now, having repped things three, four times, multiple days in the script, him being there for this. It’s time for us to learn, time for us to grow. So the little things — now is the time to have the conversation and get as many reps as we can.”