A newly released quarterback performance chart has stirred excitement among Carolina Panthers fans, placing second-year quarterback Bryce Young in rare company alongside NFL MVPs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. The chart, compiled using advanced metrics like EPA (Expected Points Added) per play, CPOE (Completion Percentage Over Expected), and pressure-to-sack ratio, indicates that Young may be on the cusp of a breakout season that could silence the critics of his rookie campaign.
Despite a turbulent 2023 rookie season marred by poor offensive line play, limited receiving weapons, and coaching instability, Young has begun to turn heads this offseason with sharp performances in OTAs and a noticeable leap in leadership and command of the offense. The chart highlights that, when adjusting for pass protection and drop rates, Young’s decision-making, release timing, and pocket mobility rank him in the upper tier of young quarterbacks—comparable to the early trajectories of Jackson and Allen.
Lamar Jackson, who won MVP in 2019, and Josh Allen, a perennial Pro Bowl talent, both experienced rocky starts to their NFL careers before making massive improvements in Year 2 and Year 3. Analysts are drawing similar parallels with Young, noting that he, too, showed flashes of elite talent under duress—particularly in games where he was given even modest support.
The chart emphasizes that Young’s accuracy under pressure and his ability to avoid turnovers are already trending well above average. His ability to extend plays without making costly mistakes mirrors the skill set that helped Lamar Jackson thrive in Baltimore’s offense and what helped Allen become a dominant dual-threat force in Buffalo.
This offseason, Carolina has worked to surround Young with better tools—adding veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson, drafting WR Xavier Legette in the first round, and revamping the offensive line. With new head coach Dave Canales bringing a QB-friendly system similar to what revived Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, the conditions are primed for Young to make a significant leap.
While it’s premature to crown Young an MVP candidate, the data suggests he’s trending in the right direction. If he capitalizes on the improvements around him and continues to grow within the system, the Panthers may have found their franchise quarterback—and potentially the league’s next breakout star.
