If you’ve spent any time at Bank of America Stadium lately, you know the vibe. It’s a mix of "Keep Pounding" grit and a massive amount of anxiety about who is taking the snaps. Being one of the quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers isn't just a job; it’s a weird, high-stakes psychological experiment. For years, this franchise has been trying to find a sequel to the Cam Newton era, and honestly, it’s been a bumpy ride. We are currently sitting in early 2026, and the dust is just starting to settle on a wild 2025 season that saw Bryce Young finally look like the guy everyone hoped he was when he left Alabama.
But people forget how we got here. They forget the carousel of bridge veterans and the "what if" scenarios that didn't pan out.
The Bryce Young Era: From Benched to the Fifth-Year Option
Let’s be real—2023 and the start of 2024 were rough. Bryce Young was the first overall pick, and for a long time, it felt like a mistake. He was benched. People called him too small. Then 2025 happened. Young finished the 2025 regular season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Those aren't "just okay" numbers for this franchise; they are evidence of a massive turnaround. He led the team to an 8-8 record in his starts and finally got Carolina back to the postseason.
Just yesterday, January 13, 2026, General Manager Dan Morgan confirmed the team is picking up Young’s fifth-year option. That’s a huge vote of confidence. It guarantees him roughly $26.5 million for the 2027 season. Even though the Panthers just lost a heartbreaker to the Rams in the Wild Card round (34-31), Young showed "flashes of greatness," as Morgan put it. He even threw a go-ahead TD to Jalen Coker late in that playoff game. He’s starting to look like the franchise cornerstone.
The Andy Dalton Factor
You can't talk about the current state of the roster without mentioning the "Red Rifle." Andy Dalton has been the ultimate pro. In 2025, he stepped in for four games, throwing for 293 yards and a touchdown. He’s 38 now. He knows his role. He’s there to make sure Bryce doesn’t implode and to provide a steady hand when the injury bug bites—like it did when Bryce had that minor ankle sprain this past year.
The Ghosts of Panthers Past
To understand why fans are so obsessed with the quarterback spot, you have to look at the history. It’s basically a tale of two titans and a whole lot of "who’s that guy?"
Cam Newton is the undisputed king. He’s the franchise leader in pretty much everything.
- Passing yards: 29,725
- Passing touchdowns: 186
- Rushing touchdowns: 63 (which is still an insane stat for a QB)
Then you have Jake Delhomme. He was the undrafted guy who almost won it all in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Jake was all heart. He still holds the record for the longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history—that 85-yard bomb to Muhsin Muhammad. Between Cam’s MVP season in 2015 and Jake’s Ragin' Cajun magic in the mid-2000s, the bar for quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers was set incredibly high.
The "Dark Ages" (2019-2022)
After Cam's shoulder started giving out, the team went into a tailspin. We saw a revolving door that would make your head spin.
- Teddy Bridgewater: Solid guy, but didn't have the "it" factor to win close games (4-11 record).
- Sam Darnold: Showed flashes, but the turnovers were backbreaking.
- Baker Mayfield: A short-lived experiment that just didn't click with the system.
- P.J. Walker: The XFL standout who gave us that legendary 62-yard hail mary to DJ Moore, even if the team didn't win much.
It felt like the front office was just throwing darts at a board.
What Makes Playing QB in Charlotte Different?
It’s the pressure. This isn't a "legacy" franchise like the Packers or the Cowboys. The Panthers are still building their identity. When you look at the list of starters, you see names like Steve Beuerlein and Kerry Collins. Beuerlein actually had a massive 1999 season with 4,436 yards, but the team still struggled to find sustained success.
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The fans in the Carolinas are patient, but only to a point. They want the dual-threat excitement of Cam mixed with the "everyman" appeal of Delhomme. Bryce Young is trying to be both. He’s small, sure, but his ability to process the game under Dave Canales has finally started to match the speed of the NFL.
Key Stats: Career Leaders Through 2025
| Player | Yards | TDs | Wins (as Starter) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Newton | 29,725 | 186 | 68 |
| Jake Delhomme | 19,258 | 120 | 53 |
| Steve Beuerlein | 12,690 | 86 | 23 |
| Bryce Young | 8,291 | 49 | 14 |
| Kerry Collins | 8,306 | 47 | 22 |
Look at Bryce's trajectory. He’s already creeping up on Kerry Collins in total yards. If he stays healthy through this newly minted fifth-year option, he’s going to easily slide into that #3 spot behind Cam and Jake. That’s a wild thought considering where he was two years ago.
The Future: What’s Next for the Room?
The 2026 offseason is going to be about stability. Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis (the cap wizard) have a lot of work to do. They need to figure out if they want to extend Bryce long-term now or wait until after the 2026 season. Waiting might cost more if he has a breakout year, but it’s the safer bet.
The depth chart currently looks like this:
- QB1: Bryce Young (The Franchise)
- QB2: Andy Dalton (The Mentor)
- QB3/Developmental: Usually a late-round flyer or a camp arm.
The offensive line has finally solidified with guys like Ikem Ekwonu and Austin Corbett providing actual protection. You can’t judge a quarterback in a vacuum. If Bryce is getting hit 60 times a year like he was in his rookie season, nobody is going to look good. The investment in the trenches is finally paying dividends for the guys under center.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking the progress of the quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers, here is what you need to keep an eye on during the 2026 training camp.
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- Third-Down Efficiency: Bryce improved his completion percentage to 63.6% in 2025. To get to that "elite" tier, he needs to stay above 65% and convert more in the red zone.
- The Deep Ball: With Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker emerged as real threats, the Panthers need to move away from the "check-down" offense. Young’s average yards per attempt rose to 6.3, but it needs to hit the 7.0 mark to truly compete with the heavy hitters in the NFC.
- Contract Timing: Watch the news around May. That’s usually when the fifth-year option paperwork is finalized. If the Panthers don't talk extension by then, it means they want one more year of "prove it" from Young.
- Roster Stability: Keep an eye on the backup situation. If Dalton decides to retire after his current stint, the Panthers will need to hunt for another veteran. A young QB like Bryce needs a sounding board who has seen every coverage imaginable.
The era of the "bridge quarterback" in Carolina appears to be over. For the first time in a decade, the path forward is clear, even if there are still a few hurdles left to clear.