Derrick Brown on Bryce Young: Critics won’t ‘admit how wrong they were’

The Carolina Panthers have officially committed to their signal-caller, picking up the fifth-year option on Bryce Young’s rookie contract. The deal guarantees the former Alabama All-American a salary of $25.904 million for the 2027 season, a move that signals confidence in the franchise quarterback as noted by the Carolina Panthers.

Despite the high-stakes nature of the position, veteran defensive tackle Derrick Brown holds deep respect for how Young has navigated intense public scrutiny. Speaking on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Brown remarked that playing quarterback in the NFL is arguably the "worst job to have" due to the immense pressure. "I salute Bryce every single day on just dealing with all the outside noise and then still being able to come in there and be efficient in the work," Brown said.

From Bench to Breakthrough

Young’s professional journey has been anything but smooth. After being selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, the young passer endured a difficult rookie campaign. The volatility continued into 2024 when head coach Dave Canales benched him following an 0-2 start. However, Young’s resilience defined his comeback; after reclaiming the starting job, he helped spark a late-season surge that eventually led the Panthers to their first playoff berth since 2017. The season concluded with a narrow 34-31 first-round loss to Los Angeles.

"He’s our guy, and we’re riding with him all the way through," Brown explained. "People don’t want to admit how good he’s becoming because they’d have to go back and admit how wrong they were. He took the benching, and he just came in to work every single day and killed it." For more analysis, check out 205focus.com's full NFL coverage page and this piece on how the benching served as motivation for the quarterback.

Building Momentum in 2026

As Auburn product Derrick Brown enters his seventh season, the team’s outlook is shifting significantly. The league has taken notice of Carolina's progress, rewarding them with multiple prime-time slots. This includes a high-profile Sunday night matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 4—the franchise’s first such appearance since 2016. The Panthers are also slated for Thursday night action against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 and a Monday night showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12.

With a favorable schedule down the stretch—playing four of their final five regular-season games at home—Brown is optimistic. "When you got a chance to go to the playoffs and people are excited to see you play on Sunday," Brown added, "man, to be able to finish out at home like that, I’m excited for that."