CHARLOTTE — Once upon a time there was a highly drafted quarterback who came to a place that was in flux, and wasn't able to singlehandedly fix the situation.

But then the situation improved, and the talent that had led to his being drafted when he was became more evident. And now, he looks like a different quarterback.

This is a story about how Sam Darnold's time in Carolina (and New York before that) didn't go so well, but his time in Minnesota and now Seattle did. And that could also tell us a little something about Bryce Young's progression here, after he replaced Darnold as the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, on a team that was wasn't in the same more stable place it is now.

"Just the accumulation of time, seeing things, the same way it happens with all quarterbacks," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. "The more they're exposed to from a defensive standpoint, the more comfortable they are when those things happen. Understanding how to relate and connect to your skill players, different guys, different body types, and learning how to adjust that and have those conversations where you're helping guys grow, that's a huge responsibility of the quarterback.

"Something that Bryce has been doing here with our young skill group is spending that time talking about the route, fine-tuning little details of it. Those are all the things that really, for Sam, looking at his success in Minnesota last year and then this year, going to a new group with new, new players to throw to guys he hadn't played with before, and finding out that chemistry comes with a lot of experience and a ton of hard work. So those guys trust him, and I know that staff trusts him by how they play their games and what they ask him to do."

Darnold had moments of success during his time with the Panthers, after he was acquired in a trade prior to the 2021 season. A former No. 3 overall pick of the Jets, the thought was a fresh start would help. And it did at first. He led the league in rushing touchdowns at one point, and led the Panthers to a 3-0 start in his first season. But then star running back Christian McCaffrey was injured, then he was injured, then he was injured again, then the Panthers traded for another quarterback and then there was a coaching change. After the first month of normal, the situation here wasn't exactly conducive to consistent offensive play.

But after a gap year backing up in San Francisco, Darnold went to Minnesota last year and threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, before going to Seattle and flourishing there. And as long snapper JJ Jansen noted, being in systems with similar roots (the Seattle system of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is a direct correlation to Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco offense, since those two families have so much shared background). And that's helped Darnold find a comfort zone.

"Not only was he a great leader and teammate here, but he played really good football," Jansen said of Darnold, and he's seen all the quarterbacks here since Jake Delhomme to Cam Newton and beyond. "His two years here, where he had a couple of injuries, there was a lot of turnover, coaches fired, there was a lot going on. Which wasn't all that different when he was in New York.

"He's big, he's strong, he's athletic. He's a great student of the game. And, so when he went to San Francisco, goes to Minnesota, now in Seattle, he's been around good coaching, guys that are really building him up, good systems for what he's good at."

The "what he's good at" is throwing the ball — accurately and downfield. He's sixth in the NFL with 3,703 passing yards, with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He's in the top 10 in most of the key stats and has also led the Seahawks to a 12-3 record coming into Sunday's game.

So when the Panthers players who have been around both quarterbacks are asked about Darnold's success with the Seahawks this year, they kind of laugh because it is the story of the NFL.

"I knew he would," veteran offensive lineman Austin Corbett said. "I loved when Sam was here, he was awesome. He's a great guy, you saw him have great success in Minnesota too, so ask those guys too."

Corbett has a special appreciation because he, too, had to move around to find his place. Drafted by the Browns, he was traded to the Rams and won a Super Bowl ring before coming here in 2022 as a free agent. So he's learned that situations matter, which applies to this place too. And the parallels with the low-key personalities of his former and current quarterbacks aren't lost on him either.

"I think I'm a big testament to that, too. Just a fresh start can do wonders for a career," Corbett said. "You know, getting out of Cleveland and going to LA helped me out, and I think it's just part of the journey in the league. Like, it's not always going to stick the first time you try something, and this league is such an immediate-answer type of thing. It's like I'm just playing football at a different level. Things are developing at different rates, and sorry, it doesn't please everybody the same way.

"It's the same thing Bryce is doing, it's the same mindset. A USC kid, that same LA, SoCal mindset, just being chill. They're not going to get too high, not going to get too low, but they have their internal motivation, and that works, and they're getting things done."

Comparing Sam Darnold and Bryce Young's first three years in the NFL

The similarities to Darnold and Young's early years and recent climbs are notable. Darnold's time with the Jets was tumulutous. Young came to a team that changed coaches midway through his first season, but now with Canales, things have stabilized and he's playing better football. Young has six game-winning drives this season alone, and his 12 since his rookie year are the most in the league over that span. And he's put his team in playoff position, as they face their third top team in the NFC this season (having previously beaten the Packers and Rams).

As Young noted this week, the situation and the help around you, matters.

"It's not tennis, it's not like it's just me out there," Young said. "I play with my guys, all of us. The success that we've had, the stuff we've been able to put together has not been just me. I'm super grateful for the play calls, for everyone around me. It's just me trying to do my job and execute. I have all the faith in the world in this locker room to go out on those moments, so I always just rely on the guys around me."

Like Corbett, veteran right tackle Taylor Moton sees the similarities between their journeys and enjoys seeing Darnold have that success — most weeks.

Moton said Young and Darnold share that "what's next" mentality.

"I love working with Bryce; he's mentally what you want out of your quarterback, so I'm glad to be able to protect him week in and week out," Moton said. "Sam has always had a really good head on his shoulders. Just the kind of effort he put into the sport, so I wasn't surprised. I just saw the talent, his arm talent, so I knew he mentally had it. And he's a really good guy.

"I'm happy for Sam and his success, but obviously this week, it's all about business and handling business in the Bank."