Bryce YoungThe 2024 season didn’t start the way he or the Panthers wanted. However, he will remain at the top of Carolina’s quarterback rankings for at least the remainder of the season.

Young was benched for this Andy Dalton in Week 3, a move that put his Panthers’ future in question. Quarterbacks who lose their starting spot shortly after arriving in the draft don’t have a long history of reclaiming it and staying with their original team. However, Dalton, who sprained his thumb in a car accident, moved Young back to the top of the depth chart by default in Week 8, and he has maintained the starter’s role ever since.

Head coach Dave Canales had previously refused to declare Young the Panthers starter on a full-time basis, despite keeping him in place every week. However, the new head coach changed his stance on the matter this week, confirming that it will be last year’s No. 1 who will lead the offense the rest of the way. The way Young responded to his poor play against the Cowboys in Week 15 played a role in this decision.

“Watching him in the game was special was so impressive,” Canales said (video link via Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer). “To see him just keep staying in there, to have his footwork right where he needs to be, to throw at No. 1 in progression and really still see the field… I’ve been around football for 15 years and see what the games look like.’ That can really wear on a guy. Watching him deal with it, how he stays calm, how he talks to his teammates and continues to work through the problems was so impressive to me and I wanted to make sure he knew that.”

Young threw two interceptions on Sunday and also lost two fumbles. Overall, turnovers and sacks taken continued to be an issue in 2024, but the 23-year-old has shown early signs of his potential since returning to the lineup. Especially with the Panthers sitting well outside the playoffs at 3-11, it’s no surprise that the team plans to keep Young in place through the end of the season, giving him additional development opportunities.

The Alabama product hasn’t done enough before or after Canales’ arrival to establish himself as the Panthers’ undisputed franchise quarterback, but with his rookie contract running through 2026 (or 2027 when his fifth-year option comes into play ), there is still plenty of time to change that. Adding competition for the QB1 gig could be an option for the upcoming offseason; At the very least, it will require re-signing Dalton (a pending free agent) or bringing in another seasoned veteran.

Recent signs suggest the Panthers are turning their attention to positions other than quarterback at the top of this year’s draft. Carolina is on track for a high Day 1 pick, but the team may find itself out of reach Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. Given the Panthers’ struggles on defense, strengthening that side of the ball in the first round would be a sensible approach. There is still plenty of time to make a decision on that front, and Young’s evaluation process will include three more games at the helm.