Baker Mayfield showed true colors with private Bryce Young gesture

Baker Mayfield gave Bryce Young a rundown of the “great landscape” of what to expect from working with new Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales.

Last season, Canales served as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Mayfield spectacularly resurrected his career. The Bucs clinched the NFC South division title with a 9-8 record and even secured an unlikely playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles .

In his first year with the Buccaneers under the stewardship of Canales, Mayfield 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 inspired the franchise to just their third Divisional Round appearance in 21 years before suffering a tight defeat to the Detroit Lions .

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The Bucs moved swiftly to complete a new deal with the quarterback; Mayfield agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $115 million with $50 million guaranteed. The former No. 1 overall pick finally appeared settled after a difficult, turbulent start to his career, and Canales received immense credit for his improvement.

Now, the 43-year-old will be tasked with turning around the future of Young . The first overall pick a year ago, Young 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 - as the Panthers finished 2-15.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Young revealed he reached out to Mayfield in order to best prepare for himself to work with Canales. The former Alabama quarterback praised Mayfield for his advice.

“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 - who spent part of the 2022 season with the Panthers - first met during Nissan's Heisman House TV spot. The pair are clearly on good terms, with Mayfield looking out for the sophomore quarterback.

Mayfield and the Bucs will open their season against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium. Meanwhile, the Panthers will kick off Canales’ reign against the New Orleans Saints in a big divisional showdown at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

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