The Carolina Panthers have taken the next step towards having their number one overall pick and new signal caller Bryce Young be the starting quarterback in week one. Panthers head coach Frank Reich announced to media yesterday that Young has been taking snaps with the first team this week, and that this has been the plan all along, referring to it as the “next step in his development”.
Panthers coach Frank Reich said the plan all along was to move Bryce Young up to 1s this week. Calls it the next step in the development of the top pick of the draft. pic.twitter.com/jAzGH4cfaK
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) June 8, 2023
It is fairly uncommon for a QB to be drafted #1 overall and not start week one, so the announcement does not come as much of a surprise. The reviews on Young have nothing but positive thus far as OTAs have been underway, with his processing skills on full display.
The Panthers selected Ole Miss wide receiver Johnathan Mingo in the second round to add to a receiver room that was pretty barren following the move that sent DJ Moore to Chicago in order to move up to the first pick and select Young. Carolina also added veteran receiver Adam Thielen during free agency.
Barring something unforseen, Young will make his NFL debut on the road in Atlanta to take on the Falcons during week one before a Monday night matchup week two for his first home start in Carolina. If Young is able to perform well this season, the Panthers should be able to compete in what is a very weak NFC South.
