Panthers trade Andy Dalton to the Eagles. What it means for depth chart, draft

Andy Dalton is headed to Philadelphia.

The Panthers agreed to trade Dalton to the Eagles for a 2027 seventh-round pick Wednesday, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. Along with the future draft pick, the Panthers will open up $2.15 million in cap space from the swap, according to Over the Cap.

This also means that former Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett will now become the No. 2 behind quarterback Bryce Young.

During his three seasons in Charlotte, Dalton threw for 1,643 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 13 games (seven starts). He was also a veteran mentor and sounding board to Young.

What Dalton’s departure means for Panthers

Young, 24, will have Pickett behind him on the quarterback depth chart entering the 2026 offseason.

With three years of service, Young doesn’t necessarily need a veteran mentor in the building. The 2023 first overall pick just led the Panthers to a division title, and he’s shown growth in his game during each of the past two seasons.

While his career 14-30 record as a starter isn’t pretty, Young did post an 8-8 record in 2025.

Young’s fifth-year option will be picked up by the Panthers this offseason, according to General Manager Dan Morgan. That decision was a foregone conclusion given his performance last year and the amount of assets the team invested in the trade to select him in 2023.

However, the Panthers could always use worthwhile long-term insurance behind Young. Pickett signed a one-year deal with Carolina last week.

The team hasn’t drafted a quarterback since selecting Young. Perhaps Morgan could still be enticed to bring in a signal-caller on a cheaper contract in the draft. That prospect would likely be selected in the middle or late rounds in April.

An updated look at Panthers’ draft inventory in 2026 and 2027

2026 draft inventory (7)

First round (1): 19th overall (original)

Second round (1): 51st overall (original)

Third round (1): 83rd overall (original)

Fourth round (1): 119th overall (original)

Fifth round (2): 158th overall (via MIN), 159th overall (original)

Sixth round (1): 200th overall (original)

* The team traded its 2026 seventh-round pick to the Vikings, along with wide receiver Adam Thielen, in August of last year.

2027 draft inventory (8)

First round (1): Original

Second round (1): Original

Third round (1): Original

Fourth round (2): Original and Minnesota’s pick

Sixth round (1): Original

Seventh round (2): Original and pick acquired from Philadelphia

* The Panthers’ 2027 fifth-round pick was also sent to Minnesota in the Thielen trade.

This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 3:35 PM.

Mike Kaye

The Charlotte Observer

Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription