Former Pro Bowl QB shares advice for Panthers' Bryce Young

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback and current team radio analyst Jake Delhomme has watched Bryce Young play throughout this season and offered advice to the rookie signal-caller ahead of Christmas. 

"The best advice I would give him is, 'Hey, buddy, I promise you, it’s going to get better,'" Delhomme said about Young during the latest edition of the "Processing Blue" podcast, as shared by Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. '"You feel like the world is caving in on you and sometimes even the simplest routes that you can complete in your sleep, it’s like it’s a strain to complete them. But the game will slow down. You’ve just go to battle through this and take it one play at a time.'" 

Young's struggles with the 1-12 Panthers, coupled with the stellar play of Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud, reportedly factored into Carolina owner David Tepper firing head coach Frank Reich on Nov. 27. 

Per ESPN stats, Young enters Week 15 ranked last in the league with a 29.6 adjusted QBR and 32nd with a 70.9 passer rating on the season. The first pick of this year's NFL Draft matched nine touchdown passes with nine interceptions across his first 12 games. 

Stroud, the second overall choice from the 2023 draft, began Thursday ranked 16th with a 55.3 adjusted QBR, fifth with a 98.7 passer rating, tied for ninth with 20 touchdown passes and second with 3,631 passing yards. As of Thursday evening, oddschecker listed Stroud as the overwhelming favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at -15000 betting odds. 

Delhomme indicated that Young should wait until this winter to fully evaluate how he played throughout his debut pro campaign. 

"It can’t slow down for him right now because he’s taking care of his body and getting ready for the next week," Delhomme added about Young. "When he can take a step back, (it will be) 'What do I have to work on? Is it this drop? Is it that throw? Is it my arm strength?'" 

Carolina will next limp into this Sunday's home game against the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons. It remains to be seen if the Panthers will consider shutting Young down before Week 18.