Carolina Panthers, QB Bryce Young sign $37.9m four-year contract

The Carolina Panthers officially signed star quarterback Bryce Young in a $37.9 million four-year deal last Friday.

As part of the deal, the No. 1 NFL Draft pick will also receive a fully-guaranteed $24.6 million signing bonus, as reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. This agreement ensures Young’s timely presence at the training camp in Spartanburg on Saturday.

Young was the last rookie from the Panthers to sign his contract. He was the first quarterback to sign among the top four draft picks.

The other top picks, C.J. Stroud (No. 2 pick) with the Houston Texans and Anthony Richardson (No. 4 pick) with the Indianapolis Colts, have yet to sign their respective contracts.

High hopes for Young’s debut as starting QB

In a strategic trade with the Chicago Bears, the Panthers climbed from the ninth to the first overall pick in the draft. This led to Young becoming the starting quarterback in training camp, surpassing veteran Andy Dalton.

Young’s exceptional performance during the June offseason workouts earned him a promotion to the first team. The team has high expectations for his debut as the starting QB in the Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 10.

Young immediately caught the attention of Carolina coach Frank Reich and his coaching staff. Despite being 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds, the quarterback quickly grasped the new system and demonstrated his impressive ability to process information.

The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner will have to prove himself during training camp. However, he has already lived up to the Panthers’ expectations from the beginning.

“It’s just the next step. We had a couple of weeks to watch Andy. Andy has continued to perform at a very high level,” Reich said of Young’s promotion to the first team.

“We’re just trying to get our team ready. Everything is about what’s best for our team, and so this was just the next step.”

Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers head coach

Young has also quickly earned the respect of the coaching staff and his fellow teammates. According to Panthers wide receiver D.J. Chark, everybody was excited to welcome Young to the team. The players assert that Young’s talent could lead them “to some really high places.”

Chark also praised the team’s decision to provide Young with a skilled coaching staff, experienced offensive line and offensive weapons like himself, creating a perfect fit for Young’s abilities.

Meanwhile, Young said that despite his elevation to the No. 1 position, he remains grounded in his approach. He is determined to continue working hard, improve his skills and earn his teammates’ respect.

“For me, it’s about earning it. I’m grateful to have the opportunity that I have. I still think it’s a process. I’m grateful to be accepted by the team,” Young said.

“It’s an amazing locker room, a great group of guys. I want to continue with that. It’s not something you’re just entitled to.”

In the Bears deal, the Panthers made significant changes to their roster. They traded away wide receiver D.J. Moore but acquired veteran players like running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver Adam Thielen.

With the team’s recent struggles at the quarterback position in mind, there are now high expectations for Young as the starting player. The team hopes he can bring positive change and success to the Panthers.