Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is entering a pretty significant season with a pretty significant endorsement.
That vote of confidence came from president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan, who spoke with reporters this afternoon. Before diving into the start of training camp on Wednesday, Morgan praised Young for his work ethic heading into an important sophomore campaign.
“I love Bryce,” Morgan said. “Obviously, I thought very highly of him when we drafted him. I think Bryce is one of the hardest working men in that locker room right now. I know he’s on a mission, I know he’s committed to being great. I know he’s committed to this franchise and makin’ this franchise great.
“So we’re gonna try to do everything we can in our power to surround him with the best players, the best protection, receivers, running backs. So we gotta do our part as well. But I know Bryce is hungry, he’s focused and we’re super excited about him.”
Young, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, turned in an underwhelming rookie performance. He averaged just 179.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns while helping lead the Panthers to an NFL-worst 2-15 record.
Those results, however, can’t all be placed at Young’s feet. His supporting cast, which was headlined by an oft-injured interior offensive line and a group of unreliable pass catchers, did quite a bit of damage themselves throughout the nightmare.
But with a revamped unit and an important learning experience under their belts, Morgan believes Young is on track to take a step forward in 2024.
“I was in Buffalo with Josh Allen, I was in Seattle with Russell Wilson,” he later added. “And you saw the progression of those guys getting better—not only every game, but every year. So Bryce, again, is a hard worker—just like Russell was, just like Josh is.
“Hopefully, we see that progression. I wouldn’t doubt it at all. I believe in Bryce. I think he has all the tools to be a great quarterback in this league.”
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