King faces uphill battle with Carolina Panthers

King faces uphill battle with Carolina Panthers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Carolina Panthers are taking a low-risk, high-upside swing at quarterback, signing former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football standout Haynes King as an undrafted free agent.

King arrives in Carolina after a productive and resilient college career, highlighted by his time at Georgia Tech. Across his tenure with the Yellow Jackets, King developed into one of the more dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the ACC. In his final season, he threw for 2,951 yards with 14 touchdown passes while adding more than 953 rushing yards and 15 scores on the ground. His ability to extend plays and create offense with his legs became a defining feature of Georgia Tech’s attack.

The question now is whether that skill set can translate to the next level—and whether he has a legitimate shot at making the Panthers’ roster.

There’s no denying the challenges ahead. King will need to process defenses faster and operate with greater clarity from the pocket, something scouts consistently flagged during the pre-draft process. The windows in the NFL close quicker, and hesitation can be the difference between a completion and a turnover.

Make or break shot for King

Still, King brings traits that teams value in backup quarterbacks. His competitive toughness stands out on film, as does his willingness to take hits and keep plays alive. His dual-threat ability also adds a layer of versatility, potentially making him useful in specialized packages or as a scout-team asset early in his career.