When the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young<\/strong> with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the expectation was that they were getting a franchise savior\u2014a poised, intelligent, and instinctive quarterback who could overcome his smaller frame with elite decision-making and accuracy. But just one year into Young’s career, public perception is already shifting, and not always in the most rational ways.<\/p>\n The most recent example? A well-known NFL insider caused a stir this week by stating that Bryce Young \u201cneeds to make another leap or two\u201d if he wants to establish himself as a franchise quarterback.<\/strong> The comment quickly caught fire on social media, sparking debates from Charlotte to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing: What exactly constitutes a \u201cleap\u201d<\/strong> for a second-year quarterback coming off a disastrous season with an unstable coaching staff, one of the league\u2019s worst offensive lines, and minimal weapons?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break down the context behind the insider\u2019s quote, examine Young\u2019s rookie season with honesty, and ask the bigger question: Is the criticism warranted\u2014or is Bryce Young being unfairly targeted for a system failure far beyond his control?<\/strong><\/p>\n The anonymous but widely circulated quote, attributed to a long-time league insider during a recent radio hit, read:<\/p>\n \u201cBryce Young still has a lot to prove. He\u2019ll need to make another leap or two<\/strong> to be considered a long-term answer in Carolina. The franchise is committed to him, sure, but he didn\u2019t show enough in Year 1 to be confident that he\u2019s the guy<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n On the surface, the quote seems typical of offseason speculation. But the language\u2014specifically, the phrase \u201canother leap or two\u201d\u2014implies that Young has already made a leap and must now make multiple more to be serviceable. That framing struck many as odd, if not inaccurate.<\/p>\n Why? Because by virtually every statistical and contextual measure, Young didn\u2019t make any leap last year\u2014not because he regressed, but because he never had a chance to progress in the first place<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be blunt: The 2023 Carolina Panthers were a mess<\/strong>, from top to bottom.<\/p>\n Young\u2019s rookie stat line was rough:<\/p>\n The numbers alone paint a bleak picture\u2014but they don\u2019t tell the whole story. Young spent most of the season under siege<\/strong>. According to PFF, the Panthers\u2019 offensive line ranked 31st in pass-blocking efficiency<\/strong>, allowing pressure on nearly 40%<\/strong> of Young\u2019s dropbacks.<\/p>\n On top of that, no Panthers receiver ranked in the top 50<\/strong> for receiving yards. Young\u2019s leading target was 33-year-old Adam Thielen<\/strong>, who, while productive, was never a separator against top man coverage anymore.<\/p>\n The coaching situation<\/strong>? Even worse. Head coach Frank Reich<\/strong> was fired midseason, and Carolina burned through offensive coordinators like candles. There was no continuity, no identity, and no protection for a rookie quarterback learning one of the league\u2019s toughest jobs on the fly.<\/p>\n As one NFC executive said after the season:<\/p>\n \u201cPut Mahomes or Burrow in that offense and they\u2019d have struggled too. That\u2019s how bad things were around Bryce.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To say Young needs to make \u201canother leap or two\u201d<\/strong> implies a linear path of progression\u2014one that quarterbacks typically take only when placed in a stable environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n So what does a leap actually look like?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s use recent QB examples:<\/p>\n These QBs weren\u2019t expected to thrive in dysfunction\u2014and neither should Bryce Young.<\/strong> Yet he\u2019s being held to a peculiar standard: expected to carry a crumbling franchise on his rookie shoulders.<\/p>\n Lost in the noise is the fact that Bryce Young did make a kind<\/em> of leap during the second half of the 2023 season.<\/p>\n From Weeks 10\u201317, he posted a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio<\/strong>, improved his pocket presence, and cut down on reckless plays. He started to use his legs more and showed an understanding of NFL coverage complexities despite having minimal help around him.<\/p>\n Those small improvements were lauded by his new head coach, Dave Canales<\/strong>, during his opening press conference:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat impressed me most was that Bryce never got rattled. You didn\u2019t see panic. You saw growth in processing, in leadership, in his willingness to take accountability.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s the kind of intangible leap that doesn\u2019t show up on highlight reels\u2014but is critical to long-term success<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Despite the tough rookie season, there are real reasons to believe Bryce Young is poised for a bounce-back:<\/p>\n Canales helped rejuvenate Geno Smith\u2019s career in Seattle<\/strong> and oversaw Baker Mayfield\u2019s best NFL season<\/strong> in Tampa Bay. His offense is built on play-action, rhythm throws, and pre-snap motion<\/strong>\u2014a perfect fit for a QB like Young.<\/p>\n The Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson<\/strong>, a crafty separator who should become Young\u2019s go-to target on third downs. They also drafted Xavier Legette<\/strong>, a deep-ball threat with size and athleticism.<\/p>\n This is a much more complete receiver room than what Young had in 2023.<\/p>\n Carolina spent money and draft capital addressing their offensive line issues, and Miles Sanders<\/strong> returns healthy with an offensive scheme more suited to his skillset. The run game should help take pressure off Young and open up the playbook.<\/p>\n Young isn\u2019t the only young quarterback to be harshly criticized early in his career. But the speed with which the NFL media moves on from first-round QBs<\/strong> is alarming.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the timeline:<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen this pattern with Zach Wilson<\/strong>, Mac Jones<\/strong>, and even Justin Fields<\/strong>. All were hailed as future stars, then discarded when things didn\u2019t click immediately. The NFL\u2019s patience is shrinking.<\/p>\n But unlike Wilson, Young didn\u2019t struggle due to immaturity or mechanics. Unlike Jones, he has mobility and creative off-script ability. Unlike Fields, he plays the quarterback position with a processor-first mindset.<\/p>\n The flaws in Year 1 weren\u2019t about Young\u2014they were about what the franchise gave (or didn\u2019t give) him<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Criticism may come from the media, but support from peers has been loud and clear<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Veteran CB Jalen Ramsey<\/strong> recently said:<\/p>\n \u201cThat kid\u2019s gonna be a star. He just needs a line and some dogs around him. You can tell the poise is already there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Teammate Taylor Moton<\/strong> echoed similar thoughts during OTAs:<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the same guy every day\u2014calm, prepared, accountable. That\u2019s all you can ask for in your quarterback.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That matters. Young hasn\u2019t lost the locker room. If anything, he\u2019s gained more respect for how he handled an impossible situation.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s define success without requiring an MVP season<\/strong>:<\/p>\n If Young does that, he doesn\u2019t need a second or third \u201cleap\u201d<\/strong>\u2014he just needs time, reps, and a stable infrastructure.<\/p>\n In a league that\u2019s growing increasingly impatient, the idea that Bryce Young must suddenly \u201cleap\u201d multiple levels just to justify his draft status is not just unfair\u2014it\u2019s disconnected from reality.<\/p>\n He was dealt one of the worst hands of any No. 1 pick in recent memory<\/strong>, stuck behind a collapsing line with no true No. 1 receiver and a carousel of play-callers. And despite all of that, he never pointed fingers<\/strong>, never broke down<\/strong>, and never lost the locker room<\/strong>.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not a bust. That\u2019s the foundation of a franchise quarterback<\/strong>\u2014even if the stats haven\u2019t caught up yet.<\/p>\n So to that insider who says Bryce Young needs \u201canother leap or two\u201d?<\/p>\n Maybe the leap isn\u2019t his to make\u2014it\u2019s Carolina\u2019s.<\/strong> Give him structure. Give him talent. Give him time.<\/p>\n Only then will we see the full version of the player who once captivated scouts, coaches, and fans alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NFL Insider Strangely Says Panthers QB Bryce Young Needs Another ‘Leap or Two’ \u2014 But Is That Really Fair? When the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young with the No. 1 … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":16536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[691,123,689,125,126],"class_list":["post-16529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-bryce-young","tag-carolina-panthers","tag-carolina-panthers-football","tag-carolina-panthers-football-news","tag-carolina-panthers-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Controversial Quote<\/h2>\n
Bryce Young’s Rookie Year: More Trainwreck Than Test Case<\/h2>\n
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“Leap or Two”? Let\u2019s Talk About What a Leap Even Looks Like<\/h2>\n
Trevor Lawrence (Jags)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n\u2192 Result: Massive leap with coaching upgrade and offensive talent<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nJared Goff (Rams \u2192 Lions)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Justin Fields (Bears)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Real Leap Already Happened\u2014Mentally<\/h2>\n
Bryce Young 2.0: Reasons for Optimism in Year Two<\/h2>\n
1. Dave Canales’ Quarterback-Friendly System<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Major Upgrades at WR<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. OL and RB Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Bigger Issue: Are We Too Quick to Judge Young QBs?<\/h2>\n
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NFL Players Still Believe in Young<\/h2>\n
What Does a Successful Year Two Look Like?<\/h2>\n
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Let’s Give Bryce Young Time to Grow<\/h2>\n