Bryce Young may not be a certified “franchise guy” just yet, but he’s gotten the Carolina Panthers a step closer to finally solving their longstanding quarterback conundrum. The former No. 1 overall pick emerged in an eye-opening 10-game run to close out the 2024 campaign, then helped break a franchise-record playoff drought in 2025.

Even still, president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan will be looking to strengthen the depth chart under center.

Advertisement

“I think we have to explore every option, whether in free agency or in the draft,” Morgan told The Charlotte Observer last month. “And get some young, more developmental guys. And ideally, they’re athletic, so they can run around, escape, make plays with their legs — you know, cause that’s the way the league is trending nowadays. So, yeah, we’ll explore every avenue there.”

So, what avenues could be open for Morgan and Carolina this offseason?

Here are four intriguing quarterback options the Panthers could explore in the coming weeks . . .

Anthony Richardson

A breakout 2025 season from Daniel Jones seems to have spelled the end of Richardson’s time in Indianapolis. Now, the Colts may trade 2023’s No. 4 overall pick—who has appeared in just 17 games over his three-year NFL career.

Advertisement

While Indy would probably look to move their high-potential, dual-threat passer to a team that’ll value him as a potential starter, a preference that might warrant a relatively expensive price tag, Richardson fits the profile of what Morgan is interested in at the position. He possesses great size at 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, tremendous arm strength and exceptional mobility.

Richardson needs developing—as his inexperience from the college level, where he made only 13 starts, and accuracy issues have bled into the pros. So he could be an appealing project for the Panthers, who did their homework on the University of Florida standout ahead of his draft.

Trey Lance

Lance is also an impressive specimen who has yet to sniff his ceiling. And the former third overall pick and soon-to-be free agent, who turns 26 years old in May, still has time to figure himself out.

Advertisement

Like Richardson, Lance could marinate a bit as a second- or third-stringer in Carolina. He can also serve as a short-yardage option in rushing or sneak situations—a role the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Young cannot physically fulfill.

Zach Wilson

We’ve highlighted a former fourth overall pick, a former third overall pick and now—a former second overall pick.

Although Wilson doesn’t carry the size, the arm or overall potency that Richardson or Lance does, he is an agile athlete who can extend plays with his legs. He also spent this past season under new Panthers offensive specialist Darrell Bevell, Miami’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2022 to 2025.

Advertisement

Russell Wilson

This Wilson crossed paths with Panthers head coach Dave Canales during his 10-year tenure in Seattle. Canales served as Wilson’s quarterbacks coach in 2018 and 2019 and the Seahawks’ passing game coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

Wilson just so happened to play his best ball with Canales in his ear. Plus, he’d likely be a strong mentor to Young—who is similar in size and play style.

The 37-year-old still has enough left in the tank, even as a scrambler, to assume a backup role. But riding with Russ seems unlikely, as he’d have to be a lateral move off fellow veteran Andy Dalton—who is under contract for 2026.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL offseason: 4 big-name QB options for the Panthers in 2026