By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers signed the fifth-year option on quarterback Bryce Young’s rookie contract on Wednesday, keeping the 2023 No. 1 pick with the team through the 2027 season.
General manager Dan Morgan first mentioned on SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” that he was planning to sign the contract and later confirmed to the The Associated Press that he had signed the deal.
Under the terms of the fifth-year option, Young would make $29.5 million for the 2027 season. However, Morgan repeatedly has said the team is pleased with Young’s progress and the goal would be to sign the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama to a long-term deal, although the team still has plenty of time to get that done.
Young is set to cost $12 million under the Panthers’ salary cap this coming season.
Young, who turns 25 in July, is just 14-30 as the team’s starting quarterback, but he is coming off his best season, posting career highs in yards passing (3,011), touchdown passes (23) and completion percentage (63.6%) while leading the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time to 2017.
Carolina lost 34-31 to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card game.