Bryce Young Earns First NFL Top 100 Honor as Panthers Build on Breakout Season

Bryce Young’s development took a significant step forward last season, and the recognition has started to follow. The Carolina Panthers quarterback has been voted into the NFL Top 100 players list for the first time in his career, marking another milestone after a campaign that showcased his growth as the leader of the franchise.

Ranked No. 98 on the annual list, Young earned the honor following noticeable improvements across nearly every major passing category. After enduring a challenging start to his NFL career, the former No. 1 overall draft pick demonstrated the consistency and poise that many expected when Carolina selected him out of Alabama.

The recognition also arrives as expectations continue to rise around the Panthers entering the 2026 season. Following a return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign, Carolina believes its young quarterback is positioned to take another step toward becoming one of the league’s established starters.

While Young still has areas of his game to refine, his progress has created genuine optimism throughout the organization. With another offseason of continuity and an improved supporting cast, the Panthers are hoping their franchise quarterback can continue building on the momentum established last year.

1. Young’s Progress Earns League-Wide Recognition

Young’s inclusion in the NFL Top 100 reflects the strides he made during his third professional season. The annual ranking, voted on by players, recognized the quarterback’s improved production and growing impact on Carolina’s offense. According to league statistics, Young established new career highs in passing yards, touchdown passes, passing success rate, and passing yards per game during the 2025 season. Those improvements highlighted both his increased comfort within the offense and his ability to make more efficient decisions under pressure. One particularly encouraging aspect of his performance came on extended passing plays. Young completed 25 of 53 attempts for 306 yards and five touchdowns on dropbacks lasting at least four seconds after the snap, illustrating his effectiveness when extending plays outside the original structure of the offense. For a quarterback who entered the league carrying enormous expectations as the top overall pick, the recognition represents an important milestone. It also signals that his peers have begun to view him as one of the league’s emerging talents after his strongest season to date.

2. Career-Best Numbers Fuel Carolina’s Optimism

Young finished the 2025 season with career-best numbers across the board. He threw for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 63.6 percent of his pass attempts, establishing personal highs in each of those categories. His contributions were not limited to the passing game. Young also added 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, providing the Panthers with additional versatility through his mobility and ability to extend drives with his legs. Those performances helped Carolina reach the postseason for the first time since the 2017 season, giving the franchise a foundation to build upon entering another year with its young quarterback at the center of the offense. Although the Panthers still have room for improvement, Young’s development played a major role in the team’s turnaround. Even with those accomplishments, expectations remain measured. Young continues to work on becoming more consistent against elite defenses, limiting mistakes in high-pressure situations, and elevating the offense throughout an entire season rather than in stretches.

3. Panthers Look to Build Around Franchise Quarterback

Carolina has continued investing in the offense with the goal of helping Young maintain his upward trajectory. The organization believes surrounding its quarterback with talented playmakers will be essential as it attempts to remain a playoff contender. One player expected to make a larger impact is wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is looking to take another step forward entering his second NFL season. His continued development could provide Young with another dependable target as the passing game continues to evolve. The Panthers may, however, begin the season facing a significant challenge along the offensive line. Starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, and his availability for the opening weeks of the season remains uncertain. If Ekwonu is unavailable, Carolina’s offensive line depth will be tested early. Even so, the organization remains confident that Young’s continued growth, combined with an improving group of offensive weapons, can help the Panthers remain competitive and potentially build on last season’s playoff appearance.