Panthers QB the rest of the NFL forgot to draft has a strong case to emerge as a must-watch training camp storyline
Carolina Panthers undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King will be one of the team’s top players to watch when training camp opens and the closer we get to preseason action in August.
Let me start by saying that I’m not here to say Carolina Panthers undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King has a strong case to contend for the starting quarterback role. That job is unquestionably going to Bryce Young, without a doubt.
Yet, I still believe King is going to emerge as a top storyline throughout training camp for a different reason and it has everything thing to do with his chances of standing out and earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
Mike Kaye of The Athletic recently went through his 53-man roster projection and had King missing the cut but listed him as the most interesting player to watch at the position. It goes to show that King needs to have a strong showing during camp with limited opportunities and continue that into the preseason.
Carolina Panthers QB Haynes King will be a must-watch player when the team returns for camp
Opportunities will be limited for King to show what he can do when the Panthers return for training camp in July. Young will be leading the first-team, Kenny Pickett will be running with the second-team, and the Panthers also have Will Grier to rotate in.
As a rookie among veterans, the real difference-maker for King is going to take place over the next few weeks by diving into the playbook and having a firm grasp on that when he returns to practice. In training camp, you can’t afford to have mental lapses as a UDFA, especially in King’s situation in the quarterback room.
What can really take King’s stock to the next level during training camp to earn a spot on the roster is embracing the Taysom-Hill role. With Young and Pickett listed above him on the QB depth chart, King needs to showcase he can offer more than being a passer.
Once pads are on in camp, seeing King on the move and working in the role will be must-watch for the media and fans set to attend practice.
Preseason will be Haynes King’s opportunity to shine
One thing going in King’s favor is the fact that the Panthers will be playing in four preseason games, starting with the Hall of Fame Game on August 6. That game will be a big opportunity for King to showcase what he can do in a live game setting because it’s highly likely the Panthers rest the majority of their starters.
King will definitely be an exciting player to watch in the early preseason games and will get plenty of reps. Historically, dual-threat quarterbacks tend to be pretty successful in the preseason as well when using their legs.
He might not be the biggest name on the roster, but King will certainly be a player worth watching closely over the next two months as he looks to earn a final roster spot.