Bryce Young and Justin Fields NFL Draft Background
Bryce Young was selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers from the University of Alabama, while Justin Fields was chosen 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears out of Ohio State, according to the official draft records and team announcements NFL.com. Young signed a four-year rookie contract with the Panthers, and Fields currently plays quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being traded from the Bears.
The draft positions reflect teams' evaluations of each quarterback's college production, arm talent, and readiness for the NFL offense. Young's selection as the top pick followed a record-setting season at Alabama, while Fields' trade to the Steelers in 2023 gave him a new offensive system and a chance to compete for the starting role in Pittsburgh.
Contract Details and Salary Figures
Bryce Young Rookie Contract
Bryce Young's four-year rookie deal with the Carolina Panthers includes a total value of approximately $37.9 million, with a signing bonus of around $22.3 million and a guaranteed base salary that increases each season, as reported by NFL salary cap trackers and team announcements Spotrac. The contract features standard rookie escalators and void years designed to manage salary cap space for the Panthers.
Justin Fields signed a four-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, with total terms reported at around $76 million, including significant guarantees, according to team and league salary reports OverTheCap. Fields' deal reflects his role as a starter and his performance in the Steelers' offense, with base salaries rising each year of the extension.
Team Performance and Current NFL Roles
Carolina Panthers with Bryce Young
The Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft and named him the starting quarterback for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with coaching staff emphasizing his development in a modern passing offense Panthers.com. Young's on-field progress has been tracked through regular season games, preseason performances, and team practice reports.
Justin Fields joined the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2024 season after being traded from the Chicago Bears, where he played from 2021 to 2023, and was named a backup and rotational option behind Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh's depth chart Steelers.com. Fields' versatility as a runner and passer has been a key part of his evaluation by NFL coaching staffs across multiple teams.
Bryce Young vs Justin Fields Earnings and Market Value
Salary Cap Impact and Earnings Comparison
Bryce Young's cap hit for the Panthers is structured around his rookie contract base salaries, which are lower than veteran quarterback deals but are expected to rise as he progresses through the deal, according to NFL salary cap databases and team financial filings CBS Sports NFL Salary Cap. Justin Fields' extension with the Steelers places him among the higher-paid quarterbacks on the roster, with cap numbers reflecting his starter role and guaranteed money.
The market value of each quarterback is shaped by draft position, contract structure, on-field production, and team needs, with Young's rookie deal providing cost certainty for the Panthers and Fields' extension signaling Pittsburgh's commitment to his development as a franchise quarterback option