The Carolina Panthers were in the market to pick up a backup quarterback who could play behind starter Bryce Young.
On Monday, they found their quarterback, one who has a Super Bowl ring, too.
Carolina Panthers Sign Super Bowl Champion Kenny Pickett
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported in a post on X that the Panthers had signed Kenny Pickett to a one-year contract.
Schefter wrote, “Source: Kenny Pickett has agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth up to $7.5M that includes $4 million in guarantees.”
Pickett played his first two NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one with the Philadelphia Eagles, and last season as a backup to Geno Smith with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Pickett played in six games in the 2025 NFL season for the Raiders, two of which he started. He had 188 yards passing, one touchdown pass, and two interceptions for Las Vegas last season under one-and-done head coach Pete Carroll.
Source: Kenny Pickett has agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth up to $7.5M that includes $4 million in guarantees.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
In his first two seasons with the Steelers under former head coach Mike Tomlin, Pickett started 12 games both in the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons. He completed 62.6% of his passes in Pittsburgh for 4,474 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Then, in the 2024 NFL season, Pickett backed up Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Pickett took the field for the final snaps of the Eagles, who won Super Bowl 59 over the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.
He played in five games for Philadelphia, including one start. In his one season with the Eagles, Pickett had 291 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and one interception. Now, after one season with Las Vegas, Pickett goes to Carolina and a new situation. It appears that quarterback Andy Dalton, who backed up Young last season, might be on his way out.
Young has done his best as Carolina’s quarterback, trying to lead the Panthers back into some relevancy in the NFL.
According to the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics, measured throughout the regular season, Young had an impact score of 69.1 and graded out at D+. In 16 starts for the Panthers, Young completed 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 passing yards. He had 23 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions for Carolina.
Pickett did not have enough data from the 2025 NFL season to rank in the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics. With Carolina adding a Super Bowl-winning quarterback to its roster, Pickett might be able to pass along some wisdom to Young and his Panthers teammates.
