CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Quarterback Bryce Young wasn’t among the players at Thursday’s news conference to introduce new Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales , but the top pick of the 2023 draft was a big reason Canales wanted to join a team that finished with an NFL-worst 2-15 record last season.
Canales, 42, reminded he never had a chance in 13 seasons as an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks or in his one season in 2023 as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to work with a No. 1 overall pick as a rookie.
Although Young is coming off an historically bad season for a quarterback taken with the top pick, Canales saw his long-term potential for success.
“The more that I got ready for this interview, started watching Bryce, looking at my notes from his [pre-draft] eval … I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent,” said Canales, who was given a six-year deal a week ago when hired.
“And he’s the guy. He’s the right guy that you all talk about when you have that quarterback, that save-the-franchise type of player. And that got me really excited.”