Panthers greats Cam Newton, Thomas Davis talk Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud

What’s more likely to happen in 2024—Bryce Young becoming a top-16 quarterback or CJ Stroud hitting a sophomore slump? Well, that’s the question a fan just posed to Carolina Panthers greats Cam Newton and Thomas Davis.

As an extra to this week’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton , the two answered that very inquiry in a video released on Friday. Newton opted for the Young side of the argument, simply stating that there’s nowhere to go but up for 2023’s No. 1 overall pick.

Young, of course, turned in an underwhelming rookie campaign . He averaged just 179.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns while helping lead the Panthers to an NFL-worst 2-15 record.

Davis, however, went a little deeper with his thoughts on Carolina’s situation under center.

“I just think that the additions the Panthers made this offseason will definitely allow Bryce Young to be who he is as a football player,” he stated. “He’s a guy that brought a lot to that Alabama team.

“People always talk about all the talent that they had around him. You go back to modern day, Bryce Young was a winner. Got to Alabama, got the opportunity to take the field, he’s a winner. It doesn’t matter who they had around him. He made things happen. And that’s kinda the mindset that the Panthers took going into that season thinking, ‘Hey, Bryce can go out and he can get it done.'”

Bryce certainly got it done for the Crimson Tide, who he led to the national title game during his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2021. And he did, to Davis’ point, have quite a bit of NFL-caliber talent around him in Tuscaloosa, including running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Jahmyr Gibbs as well as wide receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III.

That wasn’t the case for Young in 2023, where he was routinely failed by his unreliable pass catchers and less-than-stellar protection.

2024, though, has brought a revamped unit to the 23-year-old—who Davis believes is primed for a step forward.

“But it’s a little different in the NFL,” he added. “Nowadays, upgraded their offensive line, they brought in some very, very viable receivers to make sure that he has the opportunity to be successful. And I think the defense is gonna be what it is. The defense has been consistent for a very long time in Carolina.”

For Carolina’s sake, let’s hope Cam and TD are right.

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