NFL analysts hail Bryce Young's evolution: "Undoubtedly a top 20 QB"

Bryce Young got some credit from the NFL media.

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Bryce Young evolved before the NFL world's eyes. The Carolina Panthers quarterback willed himself back from the brink, recovering from a benching just 18 games into his professional career and turning himself into an exciting young quarterback.

With a five-touchdown day in his final outing of the season, Young officially put the league on notice, and some media personnel took that notice. A couple of them on the Pushing the Pile show on CBS praised Young's evolution into a legitimate starting quarterback.

Bryce Young continues to reel in praise from NFL media

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Mike Renner saying “He is undoubtedly a top 20 QB in the NFL” and he’s “better than Kyler Murray right now.”

Shocker…Pete Prisco unwilling to give BY full credit for and downplaying his turnaround 👌

Noted 📝 pic.twitter.com/9EMrRgm9On

— Keep Purring Podcast (Ben) (@KeepPurringBen) January 8, 2025

Before but especially after his benching, Bryce Young got blasted by the sports media. They crowned him the biggest bust of all time and said the Panthers might never recover from selecting him. Many of the same media have done an about-face recently.

Kyle Long, a former NFL player himself, and Mike Renner, a PFF analyst, love what they're seeing from Young lately. Long said, "He's playing like he sees the fastball." Renner chimed in," Not to say that a number one pick is going to meet expectations and become a stud, but he is undoubtedly a top 20 quarterback in the NFL. A top 20 quarterback is like, you're there."

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Renner went on to say that he believes Young is better than Kyler Murray right now. This comes a few weeks after a head-to-head in which Young outplayed Murray and led the Panthers to an overtime win.

Pete Prisco, another media member on the show, has been critical of the Panthers for selecting Young. He didn't like the pick coming out of college, and he hasn't changed his mind yet. "I need to see more," he said. "The teams [he faced] weren't very good."

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