Haynes King

The conclusion of the draft’s seventh and final round is always immediately followed by undrafted free agents lining up deals. 2026 has proven to be no exception on that front.

To no surprise, a few quarterbacks stand out among other UDFAs based on the value of their pacts. One of those is Haynes King; Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports the Georgia Tech product has agreed to terms with Carolina. He adds this contract includes $250K guaranteed.

[RELATED: Panthers’ 2026 Draft Class]

Not long after he had finished making selections in the draft, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) a UDFA quarterback signing was likely coming. This news thus comes as no surprise. King will join a QBs depth chart topped by incumbent Bryce Young, free agent addition Kenny Pickett and recent signing Will Grier during spring practices and training camp this summer.

King spent three years at Texas A&M before transferring to Georgia Tech. During a three-year run as the Yellow Jackets’ starter, he totaled 55 passing touchdowns and 24 interceptions. King’s rushing ability was on full display as well, as he amassed 2,277 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground. King was named the ACC’s Player of the Year for 2025, and he finished 10th in Heisman voting for this past season.

Those accolades made him a candidate to be drafted at some point on Day 3. However, NFL teams expectedly steered clear of several passers in the 2026 class, one not held in high regard. King will spend the offseason aiming to at least earn a spot on the Panthers’ practice squad as a quarterback. Given his athleticism and rushing success, though, Carolina may also attempt to have him transition to another position as a means of carving out an NFL role.