The Panthers draft history shows the perils of drafting a mid-round quarterback

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 30: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #7 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after being hit against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the preseason game on August 30, 2012 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As the Carolina Panthers prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft they do so in the awkward position of not knowing if quarterback Bryce Young is their long-term answer at the most important position in sports. Young enters 2026 on the final year of his rookie contract and Carolina has already picked up his fifth-year option for 2027. The former No. 1 overall pick should have at least two more seasons with the Panthers, but at this point he hasn’t proven to be a franchise quarterback.

It might be tempting for the Panthers to use a mid- or late-round pick in the 2026 draft on a quarterback as an insurance policy in case things don’t work out with Bryce Young. After all, a mid-round pick could sit for the next year or two, learn the Panthers system, then potentially be ready to compete for the starting gig in 2028.

Carolina’s track record as a drafting quarterback after the first round should probably dissuade general manager Dan Morgan from pursuing that draft day strategy.

The Panthers have drafted eight quarterbacks after the first round in franchise history. Here’s how each of those signal callers panned out in the NFL.

Matt Corral, 3rd Round, 2022

Career stats: No stats recorded

Despite being a third round pick, the Ole Miss star never saw the field in the NFL. His tenure with the Panthers was quickly derailed after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury in a preseason game. Carolina waived him in August 2023 and he was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots but failed to report. In 2024 he spent 10 days with the Minnesota Vikings during the preseason. He also spent time with the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League.

Will Grier, 3rd Round, 2019

Career stats: 2 games, 2 starts, 228 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INT, 53.8% completions

Grier played in two games for the Panthers during his rookie season in 2019 and hasn’t thrown an NFL pass since then. Carolina released him in September 2021 and, surprisingly, he has remained in the NFL through last season. Since 2021 he has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys (twice), Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys just released him last month, so we’ll see if he continues to hold a clipboard for a new team in 2026.

Jimmy Clausen, 2nd Round, 2010

Career stats: 21 games, 14 starts, 2,520 yards, 7 TDs, 14 INT, 54.0% completions

After an outstanding career at Notre Dame, Clausen was widely considered to be a first round pick. It was surprising for more than a few draft pundits that he was still on the board when the Panthers selected him at No. 48. ESPN’s John Clayton labeled the Panthers as the biggest winner from the second day of the draft by landing Clausen when they did.

Clausen was pressed into service as a rookie after an injury and inconsistent play from Matt Moore. Jimmy struggled as a rookie on an awful Panthers team going 1-9 as the starting quarterback. Carolina drafted Cam Newton the following season, relegating Clausen to the bench. The team waived him in August 2013 and he went on to play a limited role with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.

Tony Pike, 6th Round, 2010

Career stats: 1 game, 0 starts, 47 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 50% completions

Carolina double-dipped at quarterback in 2010 by taking Jimmy Clausen in the second round and Tony Pike in the sixth. Pike played in one game during his rookie season by taking over for Jimmy Clausen, who was benched. Pike’s career was shortened by injuries. He received a waived/injured designation from the Panthers in 2011, had two elbow surgeries, and never made it back to the league.

Stefan LeFors, 4th Round, 2005

Career stats: No stats

Stefan LeFors’ NFL career was brief, to say the least. After coming to Carolina as a fourth round pick he served as a backup in 2005 and was released in 2006. No other NFL team offered him a contract. LeFors played a couple of season in the CFL before going into coaching.

Randy Fasani, 5th Round, 2002

Career stats: 4 games, 1 start, 171 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INT, 34.1% completions

Fasani’s NFL career lasted one season. He played sparingly for the Panthers during his 2002 rookie campaign, was released in 2023, and was out of the league.

Chris Weinke, 4th Round, 2001

Career stats: 29 games, 20 starts, 3,904 yards, 15 TDs, 26 INT, 54.4% completions

For long-time Panthers fans, the 2001 season was brutal. Weinke was named the team’s starting quarterback as a 28-year-old fourth round rookie who had previously played minor league baseball before going to Florida State. Unsurprisingly, Weinke went 1-14 as the team’s starter during his rookie season.

In 2002 he was benched for Rodney Peete but managed to appear in one game that season, losing his only start. He remained as a backup with the Panthers through 2006 and put up one of the craziest “good stats, bad team” performances ever by throwing for a then-Panthers record 423 yards in a loss to the New York Giants. In 2007 he joined the San Francisco 49ers before wrapping up his NFL career with a 2-18 record as a starter.

Jerry Colquitt, 6th Round, 1995

Career stats: No stats

The Panthers selected Jerry Colquitt in their founding season in 1995, so he was part of Carolina’s inaugural draft class. After attempting just 64 passes in his college career, the Panthers still opted to take a flier on the unproven Tennessee product by selecting him in the sixth round. He was waived before the season began and never saw the field for an NFL team.