Bryce Young‘s debut season with the Carolina Panthers didn’t meet the team’s high expectations when they drafted him first overall last year. However, one of his veteran teammates believes that the circumstances around him made success difficult.
During an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen came to Young’s defense against the criticism he’s faced. Thielen suggested that Young wasn’t given the best opportunity to thrive in his first year.
Thielen expressed his optimism for Young’s fresh start with a new coaching staff that can develop a solid plan for his success and surround him with supportive teammates. While he didn’t delve into specifics about why Young faced challenges, Thielen hinted at issues possibly related to coaching changes.
Former head coach Frank Reich’s mid-season firing and rumors about his preferences for the draft added to the hurdles Young faced. Despite playing behind a struggling offensive line, Thielen praised Young for displaying maturity and holding himself accountable throughout the tough season.
Thielen emphasized Young’s resilience in facing adversity, highlighting his consistent efforts and leadership. Looking ahead to his second year, Thielen expressed excitement about Young’s potential growth.
In his rookie season, Young accumulated 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, typical struggles for a rookie quarterback in the demanding NFL environment. Additionally, Young faced comparisons to C.J. Stroud, who achieved instant success with the Houston Texans.
With a new head coach in Dave Canales and significant defensive improvements, along with the addition of a talented yet controversial wide receiver, Thielen remains hopeful that these changes will positively impact Young’s performance going forward.
Top Remaining Free Agents the Carolina Panthers Could Sign this Season.
The Panthers were surprisingly busy during the first and second waves of free agency. They signed a bunch of players for both offense and defense. They got some new offensive linemen and traded for a wide receiver named Diontae Johnson. They also added some defensive linemen and defensive backs. Their latest addition is a player called Jadeveon Clowney, who plays on the edge of the defense. This shows they’re not finished with free agency yet. They might make more moves because they have a lot of money left to spend in 2025 and 2026. Now, let’s take a closer look.
For the offensive positions:
There are still many wide receivers available in free agency. Some notable names include Hunter Renfrow, Allen Robinson, Odell Beckham Jr, Michael Gallup, and Tyler Boyd. But they all have ups and downs in their performance. Right now, the Panthers only have two reliable wide receivers: Diontae Johnson, who they just got, and Adam Thielen, who they got in 2023. I think the Panthers might pick a new wide receiver from the upcoming draft. But they could also use some experienced players. Otherwise, they’ll have to rely on younger players like Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall. Adding someone like Gallup or Beckham could really boost their receiving team.
The options for tight ends aren’t that exciting. The best available are CJ Uzomah and Logan Thomas. Other players like Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are not as highly ranked. So, for now, I think the Panthers will stick with Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, and Stephen Sullivan. As for running backs, unless they sign someone like Ezekiel Elliott, I think they’re pretty much set for now.
Moving on to defense:
Most of the top-tier players have already been signed, including Jadeveon Clowney for the edge position. But there are still some good players available like Emmanuel Ohbah, Carl Lawson, Randy Gregory, and Yannick Ngakoue. It’s not clear if they’d fit well into the Panthers’ defense, but they could definitely use more edge rushers, even for backup. I doubt they’ll go for the top players left, but it’s not impossible, especially considering they need better depth behind Clowney, DJ Wonnum, and K’Lavon Chaisson.
There aren’t many good options for linebackers right now. Isaiah Simmons could be interesting, but he’s quite similar to Jeremy Chinn, who hasn’t fit well into the Panthers’ scheme. However, there are lots of good choices for defensive backs. Players like J.C. Jackson, Xavien Howard, Adoree Jackson, Cam Sutton, and Stephon Gilmore are available. The Panthers might even reunite with Gilmore, especially since they signed his old college teammate Clowney.
As for safeties, it seems like a lot of good players are having to accept lower-paying contracts. Players like Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Eddie Jackson, and Quandre Diggs are still unsigned. The Panthers have already signed many safeties, but if they can get a good deal, they might want to add more depth to their team.
