The Carolina Panthers have wasted no time moving their first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, quarterback Bryce Young, up the depth chart.
Young has been promoted to starting quarterback, which new Panthers head coach Frank Reich said during practice Thursday.
«It’s just the next step,» Reich said via ESPN. «We had a couple of weeks to see Andy [Dalton]. Andy has continued to perform at a very high level. We’re just trying to prepare our team. It’s all about what’s best for our team, so this was just the next step.»
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Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers performs a drill during a practice at Bank of America Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Dalton, who signed as Young’s expected veteran backup, had been taking first-team replays to start practices for the past two weeks. However, Young was getting more time with the first team anyway, an expected move.
Now, Young started this week with the first team and Reich thought the time was right for the Heisman Trophy-winning Alabama product to take the next step in his development.
So for the Panthers’ mandatory three-day minicamp next week, Young will show up solely with the first team, while Dalton will handle second-team duties.
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For Young, being named best quarterback doesn’t change his thinking.
«For me, it’s about winning it over,» Young said. «I’m grateful to have the opportunity that I have. I still think it’s a process. I’m grateful to be accepted by the team. It’s an amazing locker room, a great group of guys. I want to continue that.» «
young bryce (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Young’s 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame has prompted some questions from those outside the team about whether he can make the impact the Panthers need from him right away. But wide receiver DJ Chark, who joins the Panthers this season, likes what he’s seeing from his new signal caller.
«Everyone is here for him,» Chark told ESPN. «And we believe that he can take us to some really high places.»
But while Reich and the Panthers love what they’ve seen of Young so far, they won’t be naming him the Week 1 starter at this time of year.
«It’s showing everything you want to see,» Reich said. «But this goes back even to the draft decision. We don’t have to make a decision until you have to.»
Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers performs a drill during a practice at Bank of America Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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With the Panthers trading with the Chicago Bears to get the first overall draft pick in April, Carolina is certainly setting Young up to be under center for Week 1, whether they want to make it official or not.