- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,135,048
- Reaction score
- 59
The Carolina Panthers will have stability at the starting quarterback position after picking up the fifth-year option on the 2023 No. 1 pick, Bryce Young.
But the Panthers shook up the quarterback room this offseason by trading Andy Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Carolina signed Kenny Pickett and Will Grier to back up Young. The Panthers also signed former Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN argued that signing Pickett to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million was the worst move of the offseason for the Panthers. Pickett, a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2022, has been passed around to the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and now the Panthers since last March.
More News: Cardinals Must Play Carson Beck Sooner Rather Than Later
The Carolina Panthers logo is pictured on a football helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 08, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
More News: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian Slams Ole Miss for ‘Basket Weaving’ Degree
“Pickett has been part of four organizations over a 24-month span, having been traded by the Steelers, Eagles and Browns before finishing up 2025 with the Raiders and signing in Carolina,” Barnwell wrote. “He has thrown exactly 800 pass attempts over that time frame.
“His 45.0 Total QBR ranks 28th out of 33 quarterbacks with at least 800 passes over the past four years, and his 0.06 EPA per dropback is last, just ahead of Bryce Young in 31st and Russell Wilson in 32nd. Pickett’s still young enough to improve, I suppose, but if four organizations have decided that he’s not a priority, are the Panthers really likely to find otherwise? Is that possibility worth paying $4 million to explore?”
It’s a gamble that was worth exploring for a couple of reasons. Dalton, 38, is aging. The Panthers are getting a player in Pickett who can develop into a solid backup quarterback.
Backup quarterbacks are extremely valuable to playoff teams, which the Panthers were last season. If the Denver Broncos had a better backup quarterback, they would have likely beaten the New England Patriots in the AFC championship.
The Panthers are getting a solid backup quarterback on a team that wants to make a deep run in the playoffs, and the costs are what they are.
For more on the Vikings and the NFL, head toNewsweek Sports.
Related Articles
Start your unlimited Newsweek trial
Continue reading...
But the Panthers shook up the quarterback room this offseason by trading Andy Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Carolina signed Kenny Pickett and Will Grier to back up Young. The Panthers also signed former Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN argued that signing Pickett to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million was the worst move of the offseason for the Panthers. Pickett, a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2022, has been passed around to the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and now the Panthers since last March.
More News: Cardinals Must Play Carson Beck Sooner Rather Than Later
You must be registered for see images attach
The Carolina Panthers logo is pictured on a football helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 08, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
More News: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian Slams Ole Miss for ‘Basket Weaving’ Degree
“Pickett has been part of four organizations over a 24-month span, having been traded by the Steelers, Eagles and Browns before finishing up 2025 with the Raiders and signing in Carolina,” Barnwell wrote. “He has thrown exactly 800 pass attempts over that time frame.
“His 45.0 Total QBR ranks 28th out of 33 quarterbacks with at least 800 passes over the past four years, and his 0.06 EPA per dropback is last, just ahead of Bryce Young in 31st and Russell Wilson in 32nd. Pickett’s still young enough to improve, I suppose, but if four organizations have decided that he’s not a priority, are the Panthers really likely to find otherwise? Is that possibility worth paying $4 million to explore?”
It’s a gamble that was worth exploring for a couple of reasons. Dalton, 38, is aging. The Panthers are getting a player in Pickett who can develop into a solid backup quarterback.
Backup quarterbacks are extremely valuable to playoff teams, which the Panthers were last season. If the Denver Broncos had a better backup quarterback, they would have likely beaten the New England Patriots in the AFC championship.
The Panthers are getting a solid backup quarterback on a team that wants to make a deep run in the playoffs, and the costs are what they are.
For more on the Vikings and the NFL, head toNewsweek Sports.
Related Articles
- Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Training Camp Preview: All the Pieces Are in Place
- Justin Herbert Skipped Chargers Workout for Madison Beer — Jim Harbaugh Reacts
- Von Miller Eyeing Reunion With AFC Contender — And He's Not Hiding It
Start your unlimited Newsweek trial
Continue reading...
