That didn’t take long.
The Carolina Panthers named No.1 overall draft pick Bryce Young as their starting quarterback on Wednesday after only one practice.
Coach Frank Reich watched the former University of Alabama aHeisman Trophy winner run the team on Wednesday morning and made the announcement.
“Yes, he’s QB1,” Reich said after the first day of Panthers training camp in Spartanburg, SC.
The Panthers traded for the rights to select the 5-foot-10-inch Young before the 2023 NFL draft. They also signed 12-year NFL veteran Andy Dalton to a two-year, $10 million deal as an insurance policy.
To pick Young, Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer traded 2023 first- and second-round picks, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears.
“I always felt Scott and I, the coaching staff, imagined and saw the vision when we decided to pick Bryce that we would be standing here today saying he’s QB1,” Reich said.
Young told the media he will not change his approach toward his rookie season, even though he’s won the starting job.
“I respect the coaches and I want to do whatever I can to play whatever role it is I’m called on to help the team,” Young said, according to ESPN. “So that means a lot [being named the starting quarterback]. For me, it’s making sure I take things day by day. It doesn’t change my approach. I want to keep improving, keep growing.”
Reich said he liked the way that the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner handled pressure during practice.
“Our philosophy is to take what the defense gives us, make the right decisions, and take chances to attack when we have opportunities to do so,” Young said. “If the smartest and most efficient play is to go underneath or intermediate, we’ll do so as well.
“That’s really the mentality and the mindset. We don’t feel like philosophically we’re overlooking anything.”
The 22-year-old Young led Alabama to the 2022 college football national championship. He decided to turn pro after his sophomore season in 2023 and committed to being a leader when he signed with the Panthers.
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be hard, but just to push everyone,” Young told the Panthers’ official website of his goals for training camp.
“For us as a unit to push ourselves, and for us as a team to take ownership in everything and try to get the most out of every day, in the meeting room and the practice field, making sure that we’re all holding ourselves to the standard that we know we should.”
