Rookie Bryce Young has been named the Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback, coach Frank Reich announced Wednesday.
“Yes, he’s QB1,” Reich said of Young, the top overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Reich’s decision isn’t much of a surprise given that Young has worked with the first-team unit since the beginning of organized team activities. He gets the nod as starter over veteran backup Andy Dalton, who signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Panthers.
“That means a lot. That’s a huge blessing,” Young said. “For me, it doesn’t change my approach.”
Young, 22, won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama in 2021 and set a school record with five games with at least five touchdown passes.
He spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa, winning the 2020 national championship as a backup to 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones.
Young threw 80 touchdown passes and completed 624 of 949 passes (65.8 percent) for 8,356 yards in 36 games for the Crimson Tide. He holds numerous program records, including single-season marks for passing touchdowns (47) and passing yards (4,872).
Young agreed to terms last week on a fully guaranteed four-year, $37.9 million rookie contract that includes a $24.6 million signing bonus.
–Field Level Media