Bryce Young sat on the bench early in his NFL career, but on Sunday he threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-26 victory that crowned the Carolina Panthers NFC South champions. During the game, fans chanted “MVP!” at the young quarterback, a moment that drew renewed attention to his rapid rise in the 2026 season.
Field Yates, ESPN’s NFL Draft and fantasy football expert, has been closely following Young’s development. He told ClutchPoints that his view of the Panthers’ quarterback has shifted significantly. “I was getting nervous, I’m not going to lie to you,” Yates said about earlier struggles. “I liked Bryce, obviously. But after a couple of years you’re sitting there saying to yourself ‘They paid how much to move up and get Bryce Young?’ That’s big load to pay for a player who might not be the guy for your future.”
Young’s early career was uneven. The Panthers, under head coach Dave Canales, even benched him during his first season. That decision, combined with inconsistent performances, led many to question whether the 2023 first-round pick was worth the investment. Yates admitted he shared those doubts.
But the fourth-year quarterback has now passed the 3,000-yard mark this season and is matching numbers previously put up by Cam Newton in Carolina. His growth reflects a longer process than the usual narrative of instant success. Yates said this progression offers a lesson in quarterback development: “If you invest in a quarterback, and you believe he’s going to have the starter skills to be an awesome player, do not slow down with your development. Just keep on doing it. It’s not going to be this clear cut trajectory all the time. Sometimes, it takes some peaks and valleys to get a player where you like him to be.”
The Panthers’ continued faith in Young has allowed him to reshape the narrative around his career. His performance against Detroit’s defense, including a tackle by defensive lineman Alim McNeill, showed a quarterback growing into his potential rather than one defined by early setbacks.
Yates’s comments came as part of a promotion with Red Baron pizza called “Crunchtime,” where fans can win one-on-one fantasy football strategy sessions. While the promotion aims to help fantasy players prepare for championship runs, Yates’s analysis of Young’s development offers insight into the patience required in the NFL’s quarterback market.
The Panthers’ willingness to maintain confidence in Young through his ups and downs contrasts with the impatience that can often define NFL front offices. It has allowed Young to reach a level where chants of “MVP!” feel less like wishful thinking and more like recognition of his current impact.
No further updates on Young’s contract or future plans have been reported as the Panthers prepare for the playoffs.
According to Yahoo Sports.