CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales avoided saying that Bryce Young could be the organization’s future franchise quarterback, but a player he developed into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback didn’t hesitate.

Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, couldn’t have enough good things about Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win over the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium say — including the fact that Young can be a franchise quarterback despite a 4-19 record.

“Speaking from experience with the ups and downs of the league – getting through it and coming out on the other side – it makes you stronger in the end,” Mayfield said. “Knowing who he’s working with now is a big deal.” Part of it with the positivity and confidence aspect.

“This guy has the potential to do anything he wants.”

Mayfield speaks from experience. He was the top pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2018, was traded to Carolina in 2022 for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024, was released with a 1-5 record and claimed by the Los Angeles Rams before signing with the Buccaneers in 2023 .

That’s when he teamed up with Canales, who was in his first year as offensive coordinator and often referred to him as an “optimistic bully” because of his sunny outlook on everything.

Mayfield had a career-best 28 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl. He was rewarded with a three-year contract extension worth $100 million.

He doesn’t understand why Young can’t achieve similar success under Canales and said several times Sunday how “proud” he was of the other Heisman Trophy winner.

“He worked his ass off,” Mayfield said.

Canales agreed that Young played “great” against the Buccaneers (6-6). He played so well that, for the first time since Young regained the starting spot from Andy Dalton five games ago, Canales was not asked if Young would start next week.

It has become a given.

But Canales has been careful not to project his expectations for Young beyond the next game or the end of the season. General manager Dan Morgan recently said the team wouldn’t sit down and discuss plans for the future of the quarterback position until the postseason.

However, based on his performance and 2-2 record in the last four games, he makes a strong case for competing for the job at least in 2025.

With 298 passing yards on Sunday, Young has thrown for more than 250 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career and is the first Carolina quarterback with 250-plus passing yards in a row and without since 2012, when Cam Newton did so Ball losses It.

Sunday’s total passing yards surpassed only Young’s 312 yards last season against the Green Bay Packers.

But what perhaps made this performance even more impressive was the fact that Young thrived when the running game wasn’t working. Carolina only had 78 yards on 21 carries, so Young had to take over the offense. He even had his second career rushing touchdown, a 10-yard scramble in the first half.

“I told him I was proud of him,” guard Robert Hunt said. “I’m extremely proud of him.” He’s playing really well and that’s what we need from him. Games like this build self-confidence. Not just in this game but over the last month… you can tell he’s getting more confident and more comfortable in the pocket.”

Had it not been for a fumble by running back Chuba Hubbard in overtime while Carolina was in position for a game-winning field goal, Young should have won for the third time in four games.

Instead, Carolina fell to 3-9, ensuring it will lose for the seventh straight season.

“Bryce played great,” Hubbard said. “Every week he gets better in some way or form.” He leads the offense. He makes the right plays and does the right things. “I can just see how comfortable he is.”

Wide receiver Adam Thielen was particularly impressed that no one, Young included, felt the need to say anything in the huddle before their touchdown drive in the final minutes of regulation that gave Carolina the lead before Tampa Bay scored a field goal managed to equalize. Expired.

“That’s what good teams do,” Thielen said at the end of Young’s 25-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in regulation. “You just come on the field and you just start walking. I felt like when we sat down together and no one really said anything, ‘All right.’ We’re on to something.” ”

When asked how impressed he was with Young, Mayfield said, “I’m just proud of him.”