The Carolina Panthers have decided to keep quarterback Bryce Young under contract for at least two more seasons, confirming Tuesday that the team will exercise the fifth-year option on Young’s rookie deal. The move locks Young in through the 2027 season at a fully guaranteed salary projected at $26.53 million. Young, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and is coming off the most productive season of his young career.
General manager Dan Morgan said, “I think Bryce has shown flashes of greatness this year against high-level competition. I think, as a team, we weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be on a game-to-game basis. But I think that’s part of what happens when you have a young team that’s building continuity and figuring themselves out. I think Bryce did a great job this year and I’m just really excited about him moving forward and him still developing chemistry with our receivers and just the pieces around him that we have.”
The decision to pick up the option reflects both Young’s late-season progress and the organization’s substantial investment in him. Young completed 63.6% of his passes in 2025 for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, all career highs. He also recorded six game-winning drives — tied for the second-most in the league — and four fourth-quarter comebacks. Carolina finished 8-9, captured the NFC South title for the first time since 2015, and returned to the playoffs after a long absence. In the Panthers’ Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown, added a rushing score, and helped push the game to the final minutes before a 34-31 defeat.
Though Young did not rank in the top half of the league in passer rating or yards per game this past season, Morgan said his command and weekly growth stood out: “I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year, and really just coming into his own and getting better every week and just attacking every day. And that’s really all you can ask for from any player, let alone your quarterback.” Morgan declined to say whether extension talks would begin soon, noting the situation remains “still up in the air.” He also indicated the Panthers could add a younger backup quarterback this offseason, giving the team more long-term options while avoiding an expensive veteran reserve.
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