Panthers quarterback plans are being put in motion after setting up a meeting with another prospect ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to meet with Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King later this week as the team continues exploring developmental backup options beyond 2026.
The Carolina Panthers are putting the long-term plan in motion at the quarterback position when it comes to Bryce Young and the backup options behind him.
The Panthers already picked up the fifth-year option for Young in 2027 and will give him one more year before planning out a long-term extension for the former first overall pick. As for the QB2 role, the Panthers revamped the position after trading away Andy Dalton and signing a one-year deal for Kenny Pickett.
However, that’s not a long-term solution. Pickett has a desire to become an NFL starter again after the 2026 season, which is why the Panthers are toying with the idea of finding another player to develop in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Heading into the draft, I think there’s going to be options there, whether they’re the best player at the time, is yet to be seen. But, if we have the opportunity to add another young guy to the mix, we’ll do that,” Panthers general manager Dan Morgan explained.
Georgia Tech’s Haynes King becomes the latest QB added to the radar for the Panthers
In the search of a long-term backup, the Panthers have already met with a few different options at the NFL Combine and on 30 visits. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King can officially join the list as he’s set to meet with the team later this week.
King fits the mold the Panthers are looking for in the QB2 role as a dual-threat quarterback after totaling 37 rushing touchdowns in his college career. The 25-year-old is an older prospect but well developed when it comes to his mental toughness and resiliency.
His deep ball accuracy is another strength of his game, making him a true threat in both short-yardage situations and deep passing situations (i.e. third-and-long).
Along with King, the Panthers have also shown interest in Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Texas Tech’s Behren Morton. Of the three, King is more of a duel-threat player and a safer player to consider. Robertson has had issues when it comes to his accuracy while Morton has medical red flags. Another name to watch out for is Arkansas’ Taylen Green to see if the Panthers bring him in for a pre-draft visit.
Carolina is doing plenty of work on the position and we’ll see which player, if any, aligns with what the Panthers are looking to add to the quarterback room.
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