Canales Stands By Bryce Young as Panthers’ QB1, Leaves Extension Talks to Front Office

Bryce Young is the Panthers’ franchise quarterback right now. Whether he holds that title for years to come depends on whether he and the organization agree to a long-term contract extension. So far, no such agreement has been reached.

During a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, Panthers head coach Dave Canales was asked directly: “Is he your franchise quarterback?”

Canales responded, “He is right now.”

He went on to praise Young’s development arc, noting the quarterback’s transformation from a top overall pick who appeared overwhelmed as a rookie in 2023, to a struggling player benched just two games into his second season in 2024, to a leader who guided his team to the playoffs in 2025.

“He’s our guy. He’s our guy, and I love the trajectory that he’s on,” Canales said. “And not just the stuff that he’s growing in, from just an operational standpoint, moving the offense, finding chemistry and all that, but it’s also just the critical moments. It’s those games, it’s the close games, it’s the one-score game at the end. Whether we’re up or down, I love having Bryce out there. I love that he stays cool, calm and collected and aggressive, and he attacks at the right time. So, all those things are pointing in the right direction.”

So why is Young only the franchise quarterback “right now”? Why haven’t the Panthers committed to him with a long-term deal?

Canales indicated that contract negotiations fall outside his purview. General Manager Dan Morgan and Executive VP of Football Operations Brandt Tilis will be responsible for handling discussions on a second contract for Young.

“I’ll just let the rest of the stuff just sort itself out, with all the conversations with his whole group and party and our front office here with Dan and Brandt working that part out,” Canales said. “But for me, especially now not calling plays, I get to just enjoy this road, help him improve on a daily basis.”

The Panthers have exercised Young’s fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2027 with a guaranteed salary of $25.9 million next season. However, a genuine long-term commitment to Young would require a second contract guaranteeing significantly more than $25.9 million and extending well beyond the next two years. For now, that level of commitment remains absent.

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