Not long ago, the NFC South was the land of MVPs, Hall of Famers and a GOAT at quarterback. With Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Tom Brady all gone, Bryce Young already gives the Panthers the best new starting QB in the division.
Young didn't need to show much in his NFL Week 1 preseason debut against the Jets. The Alabama Heisman sensation-turned-No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft, in just one afternoon in August, confirmed Carolina made the right aggressive call to trade up for its rookie franchise passer in April.
No, there was nothing dazzling about Young's numbers in the first half of action against a tough, swarming Jets defense that stood out: 4-of-6 passing, 21 yards, 3.5 yards per attempt, 72.2 passer rating, sack). He also stayed focused as a pocket passer with no flash yet as a capable runner.
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The Jets' pass rush was relentless, finally dropping Young for the first — and only time — in his last series. He a took a big hit from Solomon Thomas inside early and then was chased into a rushed overthrow downfield with another first-rounder, Jermaine Johnson, providing the edge pressure.
Still, what had to be impressive was how quickly Young got his 5-10, 204-pound frame off the ground after being rocked by Thomas and how quickly he got the ball out while Johnson was charging. He had the undersized yet poised pocket presence of Brees and the short-to-intermediate sensibility of a youthful Brady.
Young did this while not putting the big deep arm that a rookie Ryan displayed right away starting for the Falcons or the athletic improvisation a rookie Newton had a dozen years ago on the same field.
Young read the field well and made good decisions, bringing out the cerebral leadership that stamped his time with Alabama.
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The Panthers can win enough games to top a rebooted QB division under new coach Frank Reich with just a little more from Young. Consider Derek Carr comes to the Saints after a shaky end in Las Vegas. Second-year man Desmond Ridder is a wild card for the Falcons. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have gone from Brady to an uninspiring, messy battle between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.
Young's best throw will be one seen often this season. It's clear former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is his savvy go-to guy. That was made loud and clear with a chain-moving bullet to Thielen over the middle.
The Bryce Young era is officially underway. Completes his first pass to Adam Thielen pic.twitter.com/QYKLBGz3Vc
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) August 12, 2023
Keep in mind the Jets' overall defense is a tough early draw. The Panthers also plan to be run-heavier to help support their own promising defense. New feature back Miles Sanders, who's being revved up as a receiver again, also missed the game with a groin injury.
The Panthers aren't asking Young to be a safe caretaker, but his efficiency is key to them taking the division when there are bound to be plenty of mistakes and missed throws in Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay. If Carolina does that, winning South with Young's efficiency, maturity and intangibles, he also is bound to also rip rookie of the year from Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
