Panthers two-time Pro Bowler has bold prediction about Bryce Young

Much was made across the past handful of months about the struggles that Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young endured during his rookie season. 

Carolina veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen believes Young will grow following what became a disappointing campaign for just about everybody involved. 

"I think he really learned a lot about himself and adversity and how to deal with it," Thielen said about Young during a chat with Ryan Gaydos of Fox News Digital. "I think it’s only going to benefit him in the long run. If you put the right people around him, from an organization perspective and players, I think the sky’s the limit for him, and I’m excited to see what he does."

It's widely believed that Carolina drafting Young with the first overall pick instead of Houston Texans starting signal-caller C.J. Stroud last year played a role in Panthers owner David Tepper firing head coach Frank Reich in late November. Tepper later dismissed general manager Scott Fitterer after Week 18 and before Stroud, the presumed Offensive Rookie of the Year, guided Houston to a dominant 45-14 wild-card playoff win over the Cleveland Browns this past weekend. 

ESPN stats show that Young ended the regular season ranked 29th in the league among qualified players with a 33.4 adjusted QBR, 34th with a 73.7 passer rating and 33rd with a 59.8% completion percentage. While concerns related to Young's size hover over him and the Panthers this winter, Thielen sounds convinced the 22-year-old will figure things out at the highest level. 

"I think he grew a ton," Thielen said about Young. "I think he grew as a person. I think he grew as a player. I think his maturity level really amped up throughout the year, and you could see it. I think he’s got a lot of tools, obviously, to be drafted first overall. And he’s got a lot of talent."

If Young doesn't look the part by this time next year, a regime that didn't draft him could look to go in a different direction regarding the sport's most important position either before or during the 2025 NFL Draft.