"It's a no-brainer that the Carolina Panthers will pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Bryce Young during the offseason, just like the other eight NFL quarterbacks who were drafted No. 1 between 2011, when the league implemented the fifth-year option for first-round picks, and 2023, when Young was taken with the top pick. The two quarterbacks taken No. 1 after Young -- Caleb Williams ( Chicago Bears, 2024) and Cam Ward ( Tennessee Titans, 2025) --"
"Young, for example, would make at least $26.5 million in 2027 under his fifth-year option. Signing him to an extension could cost at least twice as much. The top five highest paid quarterbacks are are making between $53.1 to $60 million a year. What's not a given is whether Young will get a contract extension before his fourth season. Only four of the previous eight since 2011 were extended after three seasons,"
"For Young to get extended this offseason, his performance over the final four regular-season games -- as Carolina tries to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017 -- will be crucial. Young can't have another game on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints ( 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), like he did in the November 9 loss to the then one-win Saints at Bank of America Stadium."
Carolina is expected to exercise Bryce Young's fifth-year option, which would pay him at least $26.5 million in 2027 and is financially cheaper than an early extension. An extension could roughly double that annual pay into the range of top quarterbacks making $53–60 million. Only four of the previous eight No. 1 picks since 2011 were extended after three seasons, so a contract before Year 4 is not guaranteed. Young's performance in the final four regular-season games will be decisive, as inconsistency and a poor November showing put emphasis on the Panthers' playoff push.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]