Dez Bryant just gave Panthers another reason to believe in Haynes King

Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King was ready for the moment. The Carolina Panthers gave him every chance to shine for most of their preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and the overall performance was pretty encouraging for someone getting their first real taste of NFL action.

And it did not go unnoticed.

Former All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant was among those who came away impressed by King in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. In particular, the poise shown by the Georgia Tech product and the mindset to remain focused on what was ahead caught his eye.

Haynes King's performance in Carolina Panthers' debut caught the eye of Dez Bryant

While it's only one game, King's standout effort could be the springboard to making the 53-man roster if the same trend continues.

"I’m going to wait one more game before giving my full analysis of Haynes King. So far, he’s showing that he can lead a team down the field and score with his legs. You can tell he takes full control of the huddle and is very confident in his play.

"His mistakes don’t seem to bother him; he moves on to the next play. He looks very confident in his approach."

Everyone knows King can run. He once again showcased his speed and purpose carrying the football for Carolina's walk-off touchdown, but it was the way he distributed the football so effortlessly that became the most pleasant surprise.

Granted, King was only playing against third- and fourth-string players for the most part, but you still have to make tough throws. You still have to remain composed in the pocket and make the correct reads. Aside from a couple of efforts he would like to have back, it was a profitable evening at the office.

This is a step in the right direction for King. He quickly emerged as a high-priority target for the Panthers when the 2026 draft concluded. They met with the signal-caller during their pre-draft evaluations, and the player decided this was the best environment to grow after getting $200,000 guaranteed on his rookie deal.

Whether the Panthers take three quarterbacks onto the squad is the big question.

Bryce Young is the guy. Kenny Pickett was signed to back him up, but his limitations are obvious. King is the wild card, and his rushing ability is arguably much better than the top two quarterback options.

That would open up more for Carolina's offense, at the very least.

King was only going to get one chance to make a good first impression. He made the most of it, and the Panthers would be wise to get even more work into him in their remaining warmup games before making a final decision on his future.

Bryant's assessment of King's performance was on point. But make no mistake; what comes next is even more important.

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