Bryce Young had the difficult task of becoming the face of a franchise and turning his team into a playoff contender when the Carolina Panthers selected him No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft out of Alabama.
While he showed signs of promise, the Panthers struggled.
The team lost 11 of its first 12 games, leading to the firing of coach Frank Reich during his first season.
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Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers walks off the field after facing the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 26, 2023 in Nashville. (Silas Walker/Getty Images)
Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, who also played in his first year with the Panthers, said the former Alabama standout showed signs of promise and will continue to grow with the right personnel around him.
“I think he grew a lot. I think he grew as a person,” Thielen told Fox News Digital as he prepares for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. “I think he grew as a player. I think his maturity level really increased throughout the year, and you could see it. I think he has a lot of tools, obviously, to be selected first in the draft. And he has many talent.
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Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on Dec. 10, 2023, in New Orleans. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
“I think he really learned a lot about himself and adversity and how to deal with it. I think it will only benefit him in the long run. If you put the right people around him, from an organization and players perspective, I think the “The sky is the limit for him and I'm excited to see what he does.”
Young finished with 2,877 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes this season.
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Adam Thielen of the Carolina Panthers prepares to take the field before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Nov. 9, 2023 in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Panthers' next coach is expected to develop the young quarterback into the star he is expected to become.
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