It's the Start of Something Special in Carolina

Bryce Young and Jonathan Mingo are working closely together to become a dynamic duo early in their careers.

The Panthers didn't go into the 2023 NFL Draft with the plan to take a wide receiver in the second round to pair with their rookie QB Bryce Young. But there was one guy they really liked - Jonathan Mingo.

Carolina had a terrific 30 visit with Mingo and knew that he was the guy they wanted if he was still there at No. 39. GM Scott Fitterer entertained the idea of moving up into the first round but the deal just didn't make sense for Carolina. Had they moved up, it would have likely been for a pass rusher. Instead, they stayed put at 39 took Mingo and got their pass rusher, DJ Johnson, in the third round.

It's a natural reaction for fans to immediately dream about a dynamic connection between a rookie quarterback and a rookie receiver who was selected high in the same draft. That will be the case here with Young and Mingo in Carolina but with these two, they don't feel the pressure. Since the moment they were drafted, they've been zoned in on learning the playbook and each other.

"Bryce hit me up after the draft, told me congratulations, and told me he was a big fan of my game, so we've been chopping it up the last few weeks, Mingo said. "We've been going over the playbook, just making sure we know the ins and outs of the playbook and making sure we know the script so we can have our timing down. We threw a couple times before but it was nice to get on the practice field to get our timing down. It's fun playing with Bryce."

Mingo joked with reporters on draft night about his record against Young while he was at Ole Miss and did so again at rookie minicamp, "I'm just glad we're on the same team."

Young feels the same way and is excited to make the transition to the NFL with Mingo. He made it very clear that they will do everything they possibly can for this organization and will work together to achieve their goals.

"Him playing at Ole Miss, I was always watching film on Ole Miss and always liked him as a receiver," said Young. 'We talked even before camp. We talked just about wanting to be prepared and being the best versions of ourselves to help the team. I think for us, we're just focused on the commitment to that. Here at rookie minicamp, it's a big feeling out process of the routes, the new personnel, the new system."

The connection may not take the league by storm by Week 1 of the 2023 season but as they grow older together, it could be one that leads Carolina back to its winning ways.

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