PANTHERS PLAN TO PICK UP BRYCE YOUNG's 5th YEAR OPTION

I hear you guys,  I agree on some points.  But what else do you do?  There aren’t any franchise QBs hitting the market right now, anyone we pickup are gonna be gone, and it’s gonna cost the same.  At least with Bryce, we are only committed to one more year, any other QB is going to want a multi year deal.  Then we are in the same boat.

BCF - What you say is true as long as you just drive within those lanes. But, is there another way to approach this?? Is it possible to achieve short term stability and long term responsibility without mortgaging the future or stopping growth right now?? Sure, we want to see our team turn into a Phoenix. Sort of "rise from the ashes" of the last 7-8 years. Can we do that with what we currently have at QB.?? You asked "What else do you do?"

Let me offer something here:  Let's not get hyper-focused on 'Long-term Bryce.' Yes, in the short term we need to have a capable QB (Bryce - maybe?) as we continue our pursuit of relevancy. This does NOT mean we should mortgage our year to year plans to "pay" a QB that seems "questionable" at best. First, we need to understand that BY is already 'getting paid.' His contract is for a lot more than rookie minimum. He is currently under a "guaranteed" 4 year $38M contract. That's roughly $9.5M per year AS A ROOKIE.  If (when?? - SMDH..) he gets the 5th year tender, he will receive about $27M for one additional year. That is NOT crazy high for a QB in today's market, but it's three times (3X) what he's making now. So, is BY worth three times his current salary.??? That option also comes with an additional guarantee. That 5th year option also locks his 4th year (2026 (next year)) as "fully guaranteed" against ALL happenings. So, for the next two years the Panthers are "locked" into paying BY about $37-38M with NO guarantee that he will even play.

If Bryce gets hurt, he still gets paid every cent under that option and it ALL counts toward the cap. Injury guarantees are NOT a mandatory thing. The players contracts can be covered for injury, but their contract usually has an injury clause that separates "guaranteed" money from "fully guaranteed" money.  SO... Why not skip the 5th year option. Instead extend BY at a currently acceptable rate based on what he is worth. Maybe an additional two years starting around $15-20M in 2027, then maybe $24-27M in 2028.  If he really "raises the bar" next year, then those numbers could be higher. The contract could have performance guarantees built in, so BY could make additional money IF (and ONLY IF..) he met or exceeded the performance goals. In other words, pay the man as long as he PERFORMS. If not, then he gets what the contract specifies.  If Bryce does not want to sign (agree) to the new contract, then he can play out his current contract and would be a free agent after next year.... Let some other team worry about his lackluster performance.

I realize that not everyone will agree with this approach. IMHO, too many folks seem to believe that "PAY THE MAN" is a requirement for everyone who plays the game. Forget THAT. Players deserve to be comfortable. They deserve a reasonably generous salary commensurate with their ability, their performance, and their value to the team. At least that's the way it SHOULD be.

The Panthers have already (this year) been bitten by the 5th year "bug". Ekwonu is down with a severe injury that will likely keep him out all of next year. Sure, he deserves the best care and his current salary until the end of his contract. But... NOW, the Panthers are on the hook for this year plus next year at the current "tag" rate for OTs (about $17.5M) that counts against the cap, for which we will get NOTHING -- AND, we still have to sign another OT to take his place.

I don't know what you folks think, but there's something wrong with this.....