Nobody thought the Carolina Panthers would be in the quarterback market again this quickly. Their bold move up to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft gave them the pick of prospects from what was deemed a strong class at the top end. Unfortunately for those in power at the time, it seems like they took the wrong guy.
As C.J. Stroud continues to thrive with the Houston Texans, Bryce Young is going to the bench after another woeful showing against the Los Angeles Chargers. This was a drastic move from head coach Dave Canales after holding such high hopes for the Heisman Trophy winner this offseason, but keeping the locker room togetherness intact was more important.
Young might use this breathing space to get better and thrive moving forward. Looking at his diminished confidence and poor production, a fresh start might be the best solution for all parties.
This isn't considered to be the deepest group of quarterbacks in the 2025 draft. And the Panthers need to build a team before they can feel confident about a rookie coming under center. Therefore, looking at the veterans available next spring should be their first port of call.
With this in mind, here are seven free-agent quarterbacks the Panthers could target in 2025.
Veteran free-agent quarterbacks the Carolina Panthers could sign in 2025
Carolina Panthers could re-sign Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton is relishing the prospect of starting once again. He did everything possible to help Bryce Young out of his slump, but it wasn't enough. Now, he'll get the chance to prove there is still some good football left.
Dalton will be 37 years old soon, so re-signing with the Carolina Panthers if he plays well would be nothing more than a short-term arrangement. At the same time, it might provide those in power some extra breathing space to come up with their next big move. This would also not prevent them from drafting a signal-caller from the college ranks if someone impresses them enough.
This is the worst-case scenario for Carolina, make no mistake about about that. They mortgaged their future on going up to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft for Young. But where one door closes, another opens.
Dalton has experience of this himself after being cast aside by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 for Joe Burrow. He'll be taking nothing for granted and is looking to maximize his final opportunity to be an NFL starting quarterback.
That's his primary focus. Everything else is out of Dalton's hands.
Carolina Panthers could sign Russell Wilson
The Carolina Panthers hired Dave Canales for his progressive thinking and previous success in getting more from struggling quarterbacks. This reputation began with the Seattle Seahawks, where he assisted in turning a mid-round afterthought into one of the league's best at the position once upon a time.
Canales is credited with helping Russell Wilson adjust quickly to an NFL climate and take the league by storm. The pair developed a close relationship and the Seahawks won a Super Bowl along the way. He also happens to be a free agent in 2025 after his acrimonious departure from the Denver Broncos this spring.
Wilson found a new home quickly with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the Broncos ate the biggest dead-cap figure in league history. He looked set to start before an injury threw Justin Fields into the limelight. This is an interesting dynamic to follow as the campaign progresses, but reuniting with Canales in Carolina might be the best possible solution for all parties after Bryce Young's benching.
The signal-caller might not be the force of old, but he knows the scheme and Canales to smooth the transition. Wilson didn't have the Panthers on his list of teams when a trade from the Seahawks was imminent. That could change if the head coach manages to avoid David Tepper's wrath.
Carolina Panthers could sign Marcus Mariota
Dave Canales didn't expect to find himself in this position. The Panthers hired him to bring the best out of Bryce Young. Although the signs were promising throughout the offseason, things got worse in a competitive setting and the head coach took him out of the firing line after just two games.
This has broken the trust between the head coach and quarterback. All signs point to a move away unless Andy Dalton gets hurt. That means it's back to the drawing board for a long-term solution to an ongoing frustration.
Much will depend on what the future holds for Dalton, but someone like Marcus Mariota could potentially provide short-term relief. He is a former No. 2 pick who never quite reached the heights expected. The former Oregon star is currently backing up Jayden Daniels on the Washington Commanders once he returns from injury, so he'd relish the chance to get another opportunity to fight for a No. 1 job elsewhere in 2025.
Mariota has the accuracy and mobility that should fit into Canales' scheme extremely well. But there's just no telling what the Panthers have planned after their monumental investment in Young fell by the wayside.
Carolina Panthers could sign Jameis Winston
It seems as if Jameis Winston has been around forever. The gunslinging quarterback is still just 30 years old and currently finds himself backing up Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns in 2024 during the next phase of his feast-or-famine career.
Winston is a former No. 1 pick who's gained notoriety for his press conferences and hilarious memes more than anything on the field in recent years. The last time he saw legitimate starting involvement was the infamous 2019 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he threw for more than 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Florida State product, he also coughed up 30 interceptions.
The signal-caller is a respected, flamboyant leader in the locker room. Winston can push the football downfield quickly. The decision-making leaves a lot to be desired on occasion, but this would undoubtedly provide a level of excitement under center the Carolina Panthers haven't had since the days of Cam Newton.
After so many failed quarterback moves and the organization being in such a demoralized state, signing someone with Winston's charisma could potentially give everyone associated with the franchise a lift.
Carolina Panthers could sign Jacoby Brissett
If the Panthers decide to remove Bryce Young from the equation entirely at some stage, they better have a good contingency plan in place. As previously stated, the 2025 NFL Draft doesn't look blessed with the best prospects at football's most important position. Dan Morgan and others in positions of power must be 100 percent convinced. They cannot afford to get their next long-term move wrong.
Jacoby Brissett should be a player of interest whether the Panthers draft a signal-caller or not. The veteran boasts experience as a starter. He knows how to win and has experience mentoring young quarterbacks over the last two years.
Brissett backed up Sam Howell on the Washington Commanders in 2023 and was praised heavily for his assistance during this transition. Despite beating out Drake Maye for the New England Patriots starting job, he's always on hand to advise and guide the No. 3 pick.
The former third-round pick out of North Carolina State made a decent start over his first two games. Brissett's protecting the football and making throws when needed as the Patriots depend more on the rushing attack. Just how much longer Jerod Mayo can resist throwing Maye into the fire is anyone's guess, but the Panthers would be wise to keep close tabs on his progress heading into next spring.
Carolina Panthers could sign Mac Jones
Bryce Young is the latest in a rapidly growing line of first-round quarterbacks who cannot make a go of things in the pros. This is an indictment of their situations and development. It's also brought calls to implement more patience and allow them to sit behind a veteran until they are fully ready to participate at the pinnacle.
Another fine example of this came from Mac Jones, one of Young's former teammates at Alabama. Things looked promising for the signal-caller during a decent rookie campaign. It's been a steep decline after that, which culminated with the New England Patriots trading the No. 15 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jones is backing up Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville this season and will be a free agent in 2025. He could be forced to accept backup duties moving forward. The player might be able to find a team where he can genuinely compete for a starting job after a year of watching from the sidelines. There's just no telling for sure right now.
This would be nothing more than a one-year arrangement for the Carolina Panthers. But head coach Dave Canales might not want to risk his future on Jones if he manages to last the entire 2024 campaign.
Carolina Panthers could sign Justin Fields
The Panthers might look for a younger option at the quarterback position rather than someone who's already reached the peak of their powers. It's a difficult situation that must be managed carefully. But someone like Justin Fields could enter the equation depending on how things unfold with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the coming months.
Fields was acquired via trade from the Chicago Bears once the NFC North team had decided Caleb Williams was the guy at No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He came in as Russell Wilson's backup, but an unfortunate injury to the veteran gave the former first-round pick out of Ohio State a chance to start.
All credit must go to Fields for the way he's adjusted in tricky circumstances. The dual-threat weapon isn't making mistakes and the Steelers are relying on their outstanding defense to get them where they need to go. Whether this dynamic changes once Wilson is ready to return is up for debate, but it's given Mike Tomlin plenty to ponder long-term.
Many fans were clamoring for the Panthers to take Fields at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. They traded for Sam Darnold and took stud cornerback Jaycee Horn instead. How ironic would it be if this came full circle and the quarterback ended up under center for Carolina in 2025?