Derrick Brown has never been one to mince words. The Carolina Panthers' star defensive tackle, a man who anchors the line with the kind of quiet ferocity that makes offensive coordinators lose sleep, doesn't typically seek out the spotlight. But when it comes to his quarterback, Brown is more than willing to step into it.
During Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in May 2026, the veteran defensive lineman offered a passionate defense of Bryce Young, pushing back against a narrative that -- despite Young's 2025 playoff heroics -- still lingers like a bad hangover. According to Brown, the outside world has been slow to admit just how wrong the initial judgments about Young really were.
"People don't want to admit how wrong they were," Brown said, per reporters in attendance. "They see what he's doing now, and they still want to hold onto the old take. But we know. The guys in this building know."
It's a sentiment that resonates deeply within the Panthers' facility. For a team that went from the depths of a 2-15 disaster in 2023 to a playoff appearance in 2025, the transformation of Bryce Young has been the single most critical variable. And Brown, as a leader of the defense and one of the most respected voices in the locker room, is making sure that story doesn't get rewritten.
The Redemption Arc Nobody Wanted to See Coming
When the Panthers traded up to select Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the expectations were stratospheric. A Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama, Young was supposed to be the savior of a franchise that had been wandering the quarterback desert since the Cam Newton heyday. Instead, his rookie season was a catastrophe -- not entirely of his making, but catastrophic nonetheless.
The 2023 Panthers were a mess. A dysfunctional front office, a head coach in Frank Reich who lasted only 11 games, and an offensive line that couldn't protect a mannequin left Young battered, confused, and statistically among the worst quarterbacks in the league. The outside noise was deafening. Analysts called him a bust. Fans questioned his size. The narrative hardened: Bryce Young was not the answer.
Then came 2024. A new head coach in Dave Canales, a revamped offensive scheme under coordinator Brad Idzik, and a front office led by GM Dan Morgan that finally committed to building around their young quarterback. The results weren't immediate, but they were real. Young started showing the poise, the processing speed, and the accuracy that made him a can't-miss prospect in the first place.
By 2025, the transformation was undeniable. Young led the Panthers to a playoff berth, completing over 67% of his passes and posting a passer rating that put him comfortably in the league's top half -- a far cry from the basement-dwelling numbers of his rookie year. In the wild-card round, he delivered a performance that silenced a significant portion of his critics, even if the Panthers ultimately fell short.
"People want to act like last year didn't happen," Brown continued. "They want to say it was a fluke or that the defense carried us. But I've watched him every day. I know what I'm seeing. The game has slowed down for him. He's in command."
A Defensive Leader's Perspective
For a defensive tackle to go out of his way to defend his quarterback during a voluntary OTA session is telling. Derrick Brown is not a politician. He's not a media-trained talking head. He's a 325-pound interior force who spends his Sundays trying to demolish opposing offenses. When he speaks, it's from a place of observation and respect.
Brown has an intimate view of Young's growth. Every day in practice, he lines up against the Panthers' offensive line, occasionally getting a live look at Young in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. He sees the quick decisions, the subtle movements in the pocket, the way Young now stands tall against pressure instead of bailing early. These are the things that don't show up in a box score but matter immensely to the men who play alongside him.
"He's got that dog in him," Brown said. "He's been through the fire, and he came out the other side different. Stronger. More confident. That's the guy I want leading us."
Brown's defense of Young also serves as a subtle reminder to the fanbase and the national media: the Panthers are not the same organization that drafted Young two years ago. The roster has been overhauled. The coaching staff is stable. And the supporting cast around Young is arguably the best it's been since his arrival.
General manager Dan Morgan has been aggressive in reshaping the offense. The receiving corps now features Tetairoa McMillan, a dynamic playmaker drafted to be Young's primary target, alongside rising star Xavier Legette and reliable slot options like Jalen Coker. The backfield, headlined by Chuba Hubbard and supplemented by Jonathon Brooks and second-year Trevor Etienne, offers balance. And the offensive line -- anchored by left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and veteran right tackle Taylor Moton -- is no longer a turnstile.
Brown's faith in Young reflects a belief that the infrastructure is finally in place for sustained success.
The 2026 Outlook
As the Panthers enter OTAs, the vibe around the facility is palpably different from the grim uncertainty of 2023 and 2024. There's a quiet confidence that comes from having a proven quarterback, a coherent scheme, and a defense that remains one of the league's more underrated units under coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Young, for his part, has been sharp in early workouts. Reports from observers at the team's practice facility describe a quarterback who is commanding the huddle with authority, delivering accurate throws across the middle, and -- most importantly -- looking like he belongs. The hesitancy of his rookie season is gone. In its place is a decisiveness that suggests a player who has fully internalized the offense.
"He's not the same guy he was two years ago," one team source told reporters. "It's night and day. He's the leader of this team, and everyone knows it."
That sentiment echoes what Brown expressed publicly. The Panthers have moved past the question of whether Bryce Young can be their franchise quarterback. That answer, in their eyes, is settled. The question now is how far he can take them.
The Critics and the Narrative
Brown's frustration with the national narrative is understandable. Even after a playoff appearance, there remains a contingent of analysts and fans who view Young's rookie struggles as his definitive legacy. The "bust" label, once applied, is hard to shake -- especially for a quarterback who doesn't fit the prototypical size mold.
But Brown isn't interested in that conversation. He's seen the work. He's seen the growth. And he's ready to let the 2026 season do the talking.
"At some point, you have to look at what's happening right in front of you," Brown said. "And right now, we've got a damn good quarterback."
As the Panthers continue their OTAs and prepare for training camp, the message from their defensive leader is clear: Bryce Young is the real deal. The doubters can keep their old takes. They can hold onto the narrative they crafted back in 2023. But inside the building, there's no debate.
The Panthers believe in their quarterback. And with Derrick Brown leading the charge on defense and Bryce Young orchestrating the offense, 2026 is shaping up to be a year where the rest of the league finally catches up.