Former Tennessee an Appalachian State QB Joey Aguilar was asked by The Charlotte Observer about what makes a great backup QB. By Mike Kaye| The Charlotte Observer
The Panthers have made it clear: Carolina is seeking a young quarterback to back up starter Bryce Young in 2026.
General manager Dan Morgan has volunteered that outlook regularly since the team’s elimination from the playoffs in mid-January. The team wants to cut costs and acquire a long-term, developmental No. 2 QB, even with veteran Andy Dalton guaranteed $2 million for the upcoming season.
During the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, Morgan inferred that the team could potentially double-dip at the position in free agency and the draft.
“We are going to try to bring somebody in here — I don’t know who that is — whether through free agency or the draft, or, again, both,” Morgan said. “You never know. I’m in constant communication with Andy. We’ve talked multiple times, and he’s aware of the plan, and we’ll see what happens.”
And while the Panthers’ free agency plan at the position is being kept close to the vest, Carolina’s goal in April’s draft will most likely be to acquire a mid- to-late-round passer.
Selecting a QB prospect in the fourth, fifth or sixth round would allow the Panthers to improve their roster at other positions with premium selections. The late-round addition would also keep the pressure off Young, who is entering an all-important fourth season with a potential long-term contract extension looming.
With all that in mind, The Charlotte Observer spent this past Friday polling a quartet of QB prospects in Indianapolis.
The question was simple: What makes a good backup quarterback in their eyes?
Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Michael Hickey Getty Images
Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar has had a winding road to the NFL Draft process.
The 24-year-old passer was denied an extra year of college eligibility earlier this month, and he is still recovering from the removal of a benign tumor in his throwing shoulder, according to ESPN. And those are just the latest in a string of adversity for the prospect, who threw for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season for the Volunteers.
Aguilar began his college career at City College of San Francisco before transferring to Diablo Valley College. After two years at the JUCO program in Pleasant Hill, California, Aguilar joined the Appalachian State Mountaineers. He produced 6,760 passing yards, 452 rushing yards and 61 total touchdowns in Boone over two seasons.
Following that two-year stint, Aguilar ultimately transferred to Tennessee for a breakout 2025 campaign.
After spending a good portion of his college career playing behind another quarterback, Aguilar has an earned perspective on what makes a great backup:
“The dedication to your team and support. I’ve been a backup twice in my career at JUCO and App State. First game at App State, walked in as a backup. The dedication to go in there and work like you are the starter because ‘next man mentality’ is always a true thing. And that happened to me — I lived it. I was a backup, guy got hurt, had to go in there, and I had to be prepared. So, to be a guy that can go in there, and the willingness to learn and support the guy that’s in front of you.
“At the end of the day, we’re all one. You can’t go in there, have a guy (who’s) really good, and the next guy not be so good. So, I think that’s what helped a lot, especially at Tennessee. We were all in there, working together, and I think that was the biggest factor of our competition. That we were all trying to be better as one, but also be better as a group.”
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer
Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Michael Hickey Getty Images
Luke Altmyer, a Starkville, Mississippi, native, played for Ole Miss and Illinois during his five-year college career.
The 23-year-old quarterback was a backup for his two-year run with the Rebels before transferring to Illinois in 2023. He went on to start all 35 games he played with the Fighting Illini. Altmyer finished his three-year stint in Illinois with 7,607 passing yards, 57 passing touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
But Altmyer’s humble beginnings as a backup give him an understanding of what’s expected from that job:
“What makes any professional great is, the bottom line is everybody’s got a job to do, and it’s up to them to do that job well. … I tell people whether I’m mopping floors, cooking food, or I’m a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, my job is to be the best I can be, use the gifts I’ve been given to the highest capacity. And just kind of the backup role — like I’ve been blessed to spend some time with Philip Rivers, kind of over this process, and (we) talked a little bit about how valuable his room was to him — his quarterback room — and the way they helped him prepare and get him ready and to do the right things. They had a job to do, and they did it well, and how valuable those people were. Like, it’s a big deal.
“And so, obviously, I want to play. I’m looking forward to playing. I know I can play. I know I can win. I’ve done that. But like, when I walk in the building one day, my job is to do it well. Like I said, whether I’m mopping floors or I’m running the show, I’m gonna use my gifts every single day to be my best.”
Connecticut QB Joe Fagnano
Connecticut Huskies quarterback Joe Fagnano speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Michael Hickey Getty Images
Joe Fagnano, 25, played a whopping seven seasons of college football. The Williamsport, Pennsylvania, native spent four years at Maine before transferring to Connecticut in 2023.
The former walk-on spent the bulk of his college career as a depth arm. He threw just 376 passes during his first three seasons at Maine. He threw just 35 passes in his first year with the Huskies. In all, Fagnano threw for 10,718 yards, 93 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He played just 24 games at Connecticut.
Given his wealth of experience as a depth QB, Fagnano understands the importance of being a supporting character:
“I think somebody that can still be a leader in that role, even though there might be a guy ahead of you. That might be his offense at that time. And then somebody that doesn’t let circumstances kind of dictate how they work. Preparation doesn’t change whether you’re first string, second string, third string, and I’ve been in all those roles throughout my college career, so, that’s something that I’ve learned for sure.”
Georgia Tech QB Haynes King
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Michael Hickey Getty Images
Haynes King, 25, just wrapped up a three-year run with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Before he arrived in Atlanta, he spent three seasons with Texas A&M.
The Longview, Texas, native was the backup to future NFL quarterback Kellen Mond during his freshman season with the Aggies. While he took over the starting job as a sophomore, King sustained a season-ending leg injury during the second game of that campaign. He played in six games (five starts) in 2022 before leaving town to go to Georgia Tech.
King was a full-time starter for the Yellow Jackets for his three seasons with the program. He started 36 games and threw for 7,907 yards, 55 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during that tenure. He also showed off notable mobility (ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash during combine drills), which is something that the Panthers have said they are looking to add behind Young this offseason.
Haynes can reflect on his early days of college football and understand the ongoing competition that comes with being a backup:
“I guess mentality. Coming in each and every day, pushing each other — not just one person, not just yourself — just trying to push the whole QB room. If everybody’s getting better, then there’s no complacency or anything like that. Iron sharpens iron.”