Quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (12), quarterback Bryce Young (9) and Haynes King (16) during training camp at Bank of America Stadium.
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Carolina Panthers undrafted free agent quarterback Haynes King had an incredible Hall of Fame Game, outdueling Carson Beck and the Arizona Cardinals, and running home the last-second, game-winning touchdown. In the days following the epic performance, Panthers starting QB Bryce Young had nothing but praise for his impressive understudy.
“It was so cool to see. Haynes has been working so hard. He's looked great this whole time throughout OTAs, throughout camp. So, I wasn't shocked at all with how great he performed, how great he operated,” Young told the media on Sunday (h/t Joe Person.
Bryce Young was fired up for Haynes King at Canton and was not surprised by how he played. pic.twitter.com/Kg8i3lp4mm
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 9, 2026
King is an undrafted rookie free agent who spent three seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final three collegiate seasons. With the Yellow Jackets, King posted a 22-14 record as a starter with 7,907 passing yards, a 67.6% completion rate, 55 touchdown passes, and 24 interceptions.
His performance in the Panthers Hall of Fame Game (21-of-34 for 180 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, plus 39 rushing yards and a rushing TD), puts him in serious contention to be the primary backup to Bryce Young this season. Veteran QB Kenny Pickett is currently penciled in to that position, but we know what Pickett is at this point.
The most likely scenario here is that Haynes King ultimately ends up on the Panthers' practice squad as the QB3 on the depth chart. However, after this performance in the Hall of Fame game, it seems clear there is some real NFL potential this season. And with Young's future still somewhat up in the air, the Panthers must hold on to King and see what happens in the future.