Andy Dalton is headed to Philadelphia.
The Panthers traded Dalton to the Eagles for a 2027 seventh-round pick on Wednesday, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. Along with the future draft pick, the Panthers will open up $2.15 million in cap space from the swap.
This also means that former Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett will now become the No. 2 behind quarterback Bryce Young.
During his three seasons in Charlotte, Dalton threw for 1,643 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 13 games (seven starts). He was also a veteran mentor and sounding board to Young.
What Dalton’s departure means for Panthers
Young, 24, will have Pickett behind him on the quarterback depth chart entering the 2026 offseason.
With three years of service, Young doesn’t necessarily need a veteran mentor in the building. The 2023 first overall pick just led the Panthers to a division title, and he’s shown growth in his game during each of the past two seasons.
While his career 14-30 record as a starter isn’t pretty, Young did post an 8-8 record in 2025.
Young’s fifth-year option will be picked up by the Panthers this offseason, according to GM Dan Morgan. That decision was a foregone conclusion given his performance last year and the amount of assets the team invested in the trade to select him in 2023.
However, the Panthers could always use worthwhile long-term insurance behind Young. Pickett signed a one-year deal with Carolina last week.
The team hasn’t drafted a quarterback since selecting Young. Perhaps it could still be enticed to bring in a signal-caller on a cheaper contract in the draft. That prospect would likely be selected in the middle or late rounds in April.
This developing story will be updated.