Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick QB Kenny Pickett is signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth up to $7.5 million with $4 million guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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
Pickett was selected by the Steelers with the 20th overall pick out of Pitt in the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 24 games over two seasons with the Steelers, going 14-10 as a starter, but never showed the traits to be a long-term solution. After suffering an injury, Pickett was benched at the end of the 2023 season in favor of Mason Rudolph, who went 3-0 as a starter and led the Steelers to the postseason.
At the conclusion of the season, Pickett was dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles after the Steelers had signed QB Russell Wilson. Pickett won a Super Bowl ring as Jalen Hurts’ backup in 2024, but was traded to the Cleveland Browns last offseason. Cleveland then traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders during the preseason. In 2025 with the Raiders, Pickett went 1-1 in two starts, throwing for 188 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He also started one game for the Eagles in 2024.
Pickett threw for 4,474 yards and 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions as a Steeler. Throughout his career, he’s thrown for 4,953 yards and 16 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. In Carolina, he’ll be a backup to 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young, who led the Panthers to a playoff appearance last season.
Carolina marks the fifth NFL team for Pickett in his fifth season. The Panthers also have QB Andy Dalton under contract, though Dalton has been the subject of trade rumors and could find his way out of Carolina this offseason. Given Carolina’s financial commitment to Pickett, the team could be planning to use him as their primary backup to Young.
It’s a much lighter deal than Malik Willis, one of Pickett’s counterparts in the 2022 quarterback draft class, who signed today with the Miami Dolphins. After serving as the backup for Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers, Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.
While he may not have the opportunity to start in Carolina, Pickett has shown enough to be considered a viable backup quarterback. If he gets a chance with the Panthers, he’ll look to prove that he should get another chance at being a starting quarterback. He afforded himself that opportunity with a reported one-year contract, and we’ll see if Pickett winds up on his sixth team in as many years next offseason.
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