Carolina Panthers Sign 31-Year-Old Quarterback

TL;DR

The Carolina Panthers have signed 31-year-old quarterback Will Grier ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Grier, a former third-round pick, returns to the Panthers after stints with multiple teams, including the Cowboys.

Key points

Carolina Panthers signed quarterback Will Grier
Grier is 31 years old and a former third-round pick
He has not thrown a live pass since 2019
Grier has played for multiple NFL teams

Carolina PanthersWill GrierDallas CowboysCincinnati Bengals

The 2026 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday night. Since the Carolina Panthers went 8-9 and reached the playoffs last season, they’ll be picking 19th in the first round.

Yet, before the Panthers make it to the draft, general manager Dan Morgan is making some small changes to the roster.

According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers signed 31-year-old journeyman backup quarterback Will Grier.

The 100th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft spent last season with the Cowboys, but he hasn’t thrown a live pass since 2019. That’s when he made the only two appearances of his pro career, leading the Panthers to two losses while completing 53.8% of his passes for 228 yards and four interceptions.

Grier has bounced around from the Panthers to the Cowboys, Bengals, Patriots, Chargers, Eagles, Cowboys again, and now the Davidson, North Carolina native heads back to the team that drafted him in Carolina.

This will be Grier’s second stint with the Panthers, where he’ll now become the third-string QB behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett. It’s possible another QB will be joining them to provide even more competition in the next few days. The Panthers hold seven selections in the NFL Draft, and could always add an undrafted rookie as a camp arm who could learn from Grier’s NFL journey.

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Q&A

Why did the Carolina Panthers sign Will Grier?

The Panthers signed Will Grier as a backup quarterback to make small roster changes before the 2026 NFL Draft.

What is Will Grier's NFL career record?

Will Grier has made only two appearances in his NFL career, both with the Panthers, resulting in two losses and a completion rate of 53.8%.

Which teams has Will Grier played for in the NFL?

Will Grier has played for the Panthers, Cowboys, Bengals, Patriots, Chargers, and Eagles during his NFL career.