Kenny Pickett sealed a one‑year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, receiving $4 million guaranteed and a $7.5 million maximum. The former No. 20 overall pick recalled a March 2022 lunch with head coach Dave Canales at Pittsburgh’s Fat Head’s Saloon, a meeting that left a lasting impression and set the stage for his free‑agent move.

Canales earned a reputation as a ‘quarterback whisperer’ while serving as Seattle’s QBs coach, guiding Geno Smith’s resurgence and polishing Russell Wilson’s play. In Carolina, he added Pickett to develop behind 2023 No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young, replacing veteran Andy Dalton after the latter’s trade to Philadelphia for a 2027 seventh‑round pick.

Pickett posted a 14‑10 record in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, hoping to reclaim a starting role. He praised Young’s work ethic, recalling their 2021 Heisman showdown where Young won and Pickett placed third. A highlight for Pickett remains his 58‑yard touchdown run in the 2021 ACC championship, a memory he still cherishes.

By bringing in Pickett, the Panthers inject youth and athleticism into a quarterback room that finished 8‑8 last season under Young’s 47.5 Total QBR. Pickett’s offseason focus on weight‑room work and film study signals he intends to be a reliable backup and compete for playing time, giving Charlotte a versatile option at the position.