Carolina Panthers franchise running back Jonathan Stewart compared Bryce Young’s poise and style to that of Peyton Manning, despite significant physical differences. Stewart, who spent a decade with the Panthers and finished as their all-time leading rusher, said Young’s pocket presence carries a rare calmness and craftiness he has rarely seen.
Young, now in his fourth NFL season, has made major strides since leading the Panthers to their first division title since 2015 last year. He threw for a career-high 23 touchdowns and 3,011 yards in 2023, solidifying his role as the franchise quarterback. This season, through four games, Young’s numbers have climbed further. He leads the league with 1,268 passing yards, has nine touchdowns against two interceptions, and holds a perfect 100.0 passer rating with 7.8 yards per pass attempt.
The Panthers’ offense reflects Young’s improvement, ranking fourth in both total yards per game (405.8) and scoring (30.3 points per game). They enter their bye week atop the NFC South.
Stewart, who played alongside quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Cam Newton during his time in Carolina, said Young reminds him most of Manning. “There’s really no comparison in my opinion, man,” Stewart told Panthers Wire in a one-on-one interview. “He’s one of one, and in a lot of ways, the poise that he carries, I’ve never seen it. Like the way he does it, I would maybe say Peyton Manning-ish.”
He noted the clear physical disparity between the two quarterbacks, with Manning standing 6-foot-5 and Young at 5-foot-10. “The stature, the size, it’s just massively different,” Stewart said. “And I think he’s got a different wiggle to him too. Like in the pocket, he has this craftiness to him that you kind of can get to him, but not fully.”
Stewart also referenced Dennis Dixon, his former quarterback at Oregon, as another comparison for Young’s movement and pocket finesse. Dixon was taller at 6-foot-3 but displayed a smooth, aura-driven style of maneuvering that Stewart sees in Young. “It’s smooth, just very smooth. I think Bryce is a different type of quarterback,” he added.
Young’s contract status adds urgency to his performance. He is in the final year of his rookie deal and aiming for a new contract. If he maintains his current pace, he is on track to become one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
At 25, Young is establishing himself as the Panthers’ franchise quarterback, a role Stewart believes he is destined to hold for years to come. The team’s strong start to the 2024 season reflects that growing confidence in their young quarterback.
According to Yahoo Sports.