Kenny Pickett to start HOF game for Panthers

Morgan gave a lengthy reply when fielding a question about trading QB Andy Dalton to the Eagles, highlighting the importance of mobility at the position. Dalton, 38, lacks it. We do not get the sense that the Panthers are searching for a new, immediate starter, but adding “another young guy to the mix” for competition’s sake is on Morgan’s mind. He notes that heading into the draft, the team thinks there are going to be “options” at the quarterback position for them to consider. Head coach Dave Canales has not had the opportunity to develop his own prospect since taking the job. Perhaps he gets a chance to do so this year. Young is currently backed up by QB Kenny Pickett.

The $7.5 million is solid backup money, just under the contract signed by Gardner Minshew with the Cardinals earlier in the day. Andy Dalton remains under contract through the 2026 season but could take on more of a mentor-type role, assuming the team retains his services. Pickett “boasts” a 16-to-16 touchdown-to-interception ratio across 27 starts and 36 appearances during his four-year NFL career.

The 27-year-old was benched in Vegas’ Week 18 win over the Chiefs after completing one of four passes for three yards and an interception. His other start was one of the worst games any quarterback had all season — a 15-of-25, 64-yard, dead-on-arrival clunker in a 31-0 loss to the Eagles. Perhaps Pickett can resurrect himself in a better situation.

Pickett appeared to be benched after throwing a first quarter interception on an intermediate pass attempt, but he did return at one point as the Raiders split snaps between Aidan O’Connell and Pickett. Pickett enters free agency without much on his side other than youth. Pickett played for four teams in four seasons of his rookie contract and is a candidate to be a backup in 2026.

Smith is dealing with an ankle injury and won’t suit up for the season finale against the Chiefs. That means Kenny Pickett will get another start for a Raiders team positioned to get the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pickett threw for 64 yards and an interception in a Week 14 start against the Eagles.

Has anyone tried asking the Raiders to be normal? We’re just asking questions here. Carroll said both players would play. Neither player is worth rostering in superflex leagues in Week 18. O’Connell has probably performed like a better quarterback but spent all season buried on the depth chart for reasons that defy rational explanation.

It appears as though Smith’s season is over. Earlier today, Vegas Nation’s Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders will use “a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell” this week. Neither player should be in starting lineups, in what sounds like some sort of game-day platoon. In his first season with the Raiders, Smith completed 302-of-448 passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while rushing 41 times for 109 yards. He is under contract through 2027, though he is owed no money that season. If the Raiders were to cut him this offseason, it would cost them $18.5 million in dead money while saving them $8 million.

Bonsignore seems to imply both players will take reps in Week 18. Pickett has been the first player off the bench, so we assume he will get the start. Should the Raiders actually employ a two-quarterback game plan, neither player should be anywhere near a re-draft or DFS lineup.

For those of you keeping up-to-the-minute updates on the end of the Raiders season — there’s a few of you, right? — Carroll said yesterday that Smith had a high-ankle sprain. He apparently does not have that, after all. But what he does have remains significant. The end result is probably still Kenny Pickett starting in Week 18 against the Chiefs in a game that the Raiders clearly want to lose. Pickett does, admittedly, give them a leg up in that competition. We’ll see if he can match Chris Olodokun throw for throw.

Pickett connected with rookie WR Dont’e Thornton for a five-yard gain and later linked up with his old pal, WR Shedrick Jackson, Bo Jackson’s nephew, for an 11-yard gain. Unfortunately, on the latter play, it was a 4th-and-16 from the Giants’ 47-yard line. Pickett will likely start against the Chiefs next week. He is a borderline QB2/3.