Despite finishing 5-12 in the regular season and being among the bottom five NFC teams for the second year in a row, the Carolina Panthers seem to have finally made a breakthrough.
Their Quarterback, Bryce Young, who was benched after week two, has found his legs since returning in week eight. With the season having just concluded, they could also be in the market for acquiring some free agents in the off-season.
Young was drafted as the number one pick in the 2023 draft by the Panthers and quickly raised many concerns in his rookie year. Averaging only 180 passing yards per game and less than one touchdown, he wasn’t the “franchise quarterback” they had hoped he would be.
However, the Panthers didn’t give up hope and started the 5’10 Alabama quarterback this season.
The Panthers went on to lose the first two games, with Young throwing for a total of 245 yards, three interceptions, and no touchdowns.
It seemed like Bryce Young’s career might be over quicker than anticipated, and he would be placed on the bench starting week three.
However, their backup Andy Dalton, suffered an injury in a car crash after week seven, and all of a sudden it was Young’s chance to prove he had what it takes.
Week eight against the Broncos lit a new fire under Bryce Young, passing for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Despite losing the game, the offensive success gave hope for the remaining games to come.
Young would continue this pace, averaging 210 passing yards per game, 1.5 touchdowns, and less than one interception per game until the end of the season. Additionally Young through the last 11 weeks of the season was ranked 7th overall in quarterback rating, and 1st overall in big-time throws.
Carolina also managed to hold both Superbowl 59 teams within a one-score game, Kansas City in week 12 (30-27 L), and Philadelphia in week 14 (22-16 L). This marked a significant difference from the start of the season where they were being blown out by teams like the Saints, Bears, and Falcons, who failed to even make the playoffs.
The turnaround the team made in the latter half of the season is a feat that at the beginning would’ve been seen as impossible.
This offensive revival could be exactly what the Carolina Panthers need going into next season. On top of Bryce Young’s success, notable players like Adam Thielen and Chubba Hubbard also had great seasons.
Running back Chubba Hubbard finished 8th overall in rushing yards, and 13th in rushing touchdowns. On the other hand, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen managed to finish with 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns, despite missing almost half the season due to injury.
Looking forward toward the next season there are some major moves the Panthers could be looking to make within their receiving core. NFL Insider, Adam Schefter, reports that the LA Rams have recently requested an immediate trade for former Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
According to Zach Roberts from Sports Illustrated, the Panthers have been named the “ideal landing spot”. Another potential acquisition is elite wide receiver Tee Higgins, who will likely find himself looking for a landing spot during free agency, as the Cincinnati Bengals have limited cap space remaining to pay him. Additionally, the Panthers could look to draft a wide receiver such as Arizona’s Tetairora McMillan with their 8th pick.
With the season having just concluded with Super Bowl 59, the period of trading, coaching moves, and training will begin.
If the Panthers can carry the momentum from this past season through the off-season, and make some serious moves to acquire an elite receiver, they could have a very real shot at being a contender in the NFL next year.
