Bryce Young has made progress since his rough rookie season, but the Carolina Panthers quarterback is heading into a season where the pressure is starting to build.

The Panthers picked up Young's fifth-year option, but that decision wasn't necessarily a ringing endorsement of everything he's done so far. Instead, it gave Carolina a relatively low-risk way to find out whether the former Alabama star can become the long-term answer at quarterback.

If Young plays well in 2026, the Panthers could have one of the cheaper starting quarterbacks in the league in 2027. If he doesn't, the financial commitment isn't prohibitive. That's what makes this season so important.

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Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports has placed Young in the hot seat ahead of the 2026 season, pointing to the quarterback's uneven production and the importance of what comes next.

Young's rookie year was disastrous, but he showed improvement toward the end of his second season and took another step forward last year. Even so, the numbers still leave lots to be desired.

He ranked 29th in net yards per attempt, 26th in EPA per play and 25th in interception rate. Those aren't exactly the kind of numbers that make a quarterback's job feel secure, especially when there are already questions surrounding Young's size and limitations as a passer.

Pereles' assessment puts the situation plainly: Young has made progress, but he still has to prove that progress is enough.

The Panthers don't necessarily need him to become an MVP candidate overnight. They do, however, need to see enough from their former No. 1 overall pick to believe he can be the guy moving forward. That makes 2026 a pivotal season for Young.

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He's already survived the worst of his rookie struggles and shown moments that suggest he can be better than that version of himself. Now, he needs to turn those moments into consistency.