Did the Carolina Panthers just sign their version of Taysom Hill?
Soon after capping their work during the 2026 NFL Draft, the Panthers altered their attention to the undrafted free agent market and signed Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King.
A physical ACC force, King has been compared to Hill, who plays a variety of roles for the New Orleans Saints.
King, who signed for a guaranteed $250,000, earned a reputation for being a tough, dual-threat QB, passing for 2,951 yards and rushing for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
At 25 years old, King spent six years in college, three at Georgia Tech and three at Texas A&M. Listed at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, King will open the Panthers’ offseason training activities as the team’s fourth signal-caller, sitting behind Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett and Will Grier, a local product who was Carolina’s 2019 third-round draft pick.
Pickett is the clear No. 2 behind Young, the franchise quarterback. Can King, the 2025 ACC Player of the Year, forge a utility role like Hill?
Panthers bolster roster with UDFA signings
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan enjoyed recent success with UDFA signings.
Entering his third season as the team’s WR2, Jalen Coker has developed into a dependable target for Young. In the NFC Wild Card game last January, Coker compiled 134 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Cornerback Corey Thornton and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald carved out regular-season roles last summer.
2026 NFL UDFA Signings
Here is an alphabetical list of undrafted free agents the Panthers signed through Saturday night:
Player, Position, College team
