There is plenty for Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young to work on ahead of the 2024 season after he struggled at times last year.
ESPN NFL analyst Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter Saturday morning and shared the next steps for the former Alabama star this offseason.
“The next step for him, I’m told, is really the footwork and Dave Canales’ offense, mastering that,” Fowler said.
Dave Canales was hired as the Panthers offensive coordinator this offseason after serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. He helped Baker Mayfield to a breakout season last year and is hoping to do the same with Bryce Young in 2024.
Fowler added that overall he has heard that Young is off to a strong start this offseason.
“I was told that Panthers coaches have been impressed by a few things in OTAs – 1. His accuracy. He’s hitting guys on the move, in stride,” Fowler said. “And he’s also gained a little weight, I was told, this offseason.”
That is obviously good news for the Panthers and Young.
Carolina tied for the second-most sacks allowed in the NFL last season, so Young was constantly on the move and taking hits. Improving his accuracy on the run and bulking up to withstand more hits should help him in 2024.
Another reason for optimism that Bryce Young will be improved in 2024 is the fact that the Panthers went out and got him some help in the draft.
Carolina selected wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round last month, and he and Young are already working on their chemistry together.
“I think really with any receiver there’s a learning curve, everyone does things a little differently, everyone moves a little differently, cuts a little differently, has different tenancies, things they like and don’t like,” Young explained. “And as a quarterback, it’s our job to figure that out, to make sure that we can cater to that. Obviously there’s concepts, there’s timing that the coaches put in, but we have to take that all into consideration.”
Young struggled last season in his rookie year throwing for just 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He was also sacked 62 times. While Legette won’t be blocking pass rushers, the Panthers are hoping he can help Young out my replicating his latest breakout college season where he caught 71 passes for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Now, being able to be around Xav for a couple days, just like you said, that combination of size, speed, how explosive he is, the way he comes out of routes. Yeah, it’s definitely something that I gotta get used to,” Young admitted. “We’re working on getting that timing down but I’m super excited.
“He’s done a lot of great things, great guy, great attitude. So again, we’re in that process of building.”
