After Dave Canales was hired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers this offseason, second-year quarterback Bryce Young sought advice from a division rival.
Per The Athletic’s Joseph Person, Young said he reached out to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who enjoyed a career resurgence during the 2023 season with Canales as his offensive coordinator.
Young said Mayfield gave him a “great landscape” of what to expect from the first-year head coach.
“He told me he loved learning from coach Canales, that he had a ton of confidence in them and all the stuff they did,” Young said.
“It was really nice just being able to learn all this stuff. Out of respect for Baker, I’m [going to] be pretty vague.
I don’t want to say everything. But it was great hearing his perspective.”
Young and Mayfield first met during Nissan’s Heisman House TV spot, and Mayfield spent part of the 2022 season with the Panthers.
In his first year with the Buccaneers, the 2018 No. 1 pick was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Mayfield’s improvement last season helped make Canales an attractive coaching candidate, and Carolina is certainly hoping he will have the same effect on Young.
The 2023 No. 1 pick endured a rough rookie season in which he threw for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while being sacked 62 times, the second-highest total in the league.
Young will get his first chance to showcase what he’s learned under Canales when the Panthers open the 2024 season on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.