Bryce Young is making noise before the season even kicks off. The Carolina Panthers quarterback just landed on the NFL’s Top 100 players list for the first time in his career. That’s a big deal for a guy who was written off by plenty of people after his first two years in the league.
Young came in at No. 98. Not flashy, but it’s a foot in the door. And considering where he was a year ago, that’s real progress. The NFL highlighted his jump in production during the 2025 season, calling out career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, success rate, and yards per game. Specifically, Young was 25 of 53 for 306 yards and five touchdowns on dropbacks that lasted four seconds or longer. That kind of patience and accuracy under pressure is what teams want from their franchise QB.
His third season with Carolina was easily his best. Young threw for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 63.6 percent of his passes. All three of those are career bests. He also ran for 216 yards and two more scores. The guy was a legit dual threat last year, and it showed up in the win column too.
The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season, and Young was a huge reason why. He wasn’t just managing games — he was making plays. That’s why there’s so much optimism around him heading into 2026. People are starting to talk like this could be the year he really breaks out. And it’s not just fans. The league noticed.
Carolina didn’t sit still either. They made sure Young has weapons. Tetairoa McMillan is coming back for Year 2, and the hope is he takes a step forward. But there’s a problem. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is still recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. The team hasn’t said when he’ll be back, and that’s a concern. Losing your blindside protector for any stretch is rough, especially for a young quarterback trying to build momentum.
Still, the vibe in Carolina is different now. Young isn’t the question mark he used to be. He’s a guy who proved he can carry an offense, and now he’s got the recognition to match. If the line holds up and the young receivers keep growing, this team could be dangerous. Young just made the Top 100 once. Nobody would be surprised if it happens again — and he climbs higher.
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