Several NFL teams have suffered brutal injuries to their star quarterbacks in the first two weeks of the season. The Carolina Panthers might capitalize on this misfortune by taking trade calls on veteran backup Kenny Pickett.
It seems unlikely, but general manager Dan Morgan might be able to get something back in return if he makes the signal-caller available.
The New York Giants and Washington Commanders are among those whose franchise players won't be around for the foreseeable future. No fewer than 18 percent of the projected starting Week 1 quarterbacks have spent time on the shelf so far. This comes with the territory, but it might leave a few clubs scrambling for better answers.
Carolina Panthers might listen to Kenny Pickett trade offers amid league-wide quarterback injuries
Someone would have to be pretty far down their options to make an offer for Pickett. But it's also worth remembering that Morgan found a trade partner for Andy Dalton, shipping him to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Panthers signed Pickett to a one-year deal this offseason. Head coach Dave Canales believed there was still something to salvage, making him another project for him to mold.
Carolina isn't expecting him to see the field all that much, so his focus is supporting Young, developing his skills, and making sure he is ready to step in at a moment's notice.
That's it.
Pickett's starting fortunes haven't been all that promising since the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him No. 20 overall in 2022. But if a team is desperate enough, they may see him as a viable band-aid solution.
Carolina Panthers would be better off keeping Kenny Pickett rather than trading him
Morgan might listen. But it would have to be a can't-refuse offer.
Carolina needs a solid contingency if Young gets hurt. He's been incredibly durable throughout his career, but anything can happen in the NFL. And if the worst happened, trusting the offense to undrafted rookie Haynes King might be too big a risk as the Panthers look to take the next step into legitimate contention.
That makes Pickett worth keeping around.
Better options than Pickett might be available, too.
Names like Shedeur Sanders and J.J. McCarthy are drawing a lot of speculation, given their current situations. They are younger with more upside, but teams will still be wary about sacrificing draft capital on the off chance they can fulfill their promise.
The Panthers seem happy enough with Pickett. He might only be a short-term solution in Carolina, but if King develops enough to assume QB2 duties next year, that's all they'll need.
Nothing should be completely dismissed, but the Panthers have to cover all their bases for every possible scenario that could hold them back. That's why holding onto Pickett is more valuable than trading him.
But this is the NFL, where everyone has a price.
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