Bryce Perkins is back in the NFL for the first time since 2022. After about Two seasons with the Michigan Panthers, and the creation of a business the 2025 UFL MVP has finally signed with the Carolina Panthers with about 15 days left in training camp.
The road back to the NFL hasn’t been linear at all for Perkins, who spent all of 2023 out of football, and reunited with Steve Kazor in 2024 to restart his pro football career. Since coming into the UFL, Perkins has been one of the league’s most dynamic players becoming a human highlight reel and adding every piece of hardware he could earn during the 2025 season except a win in the UFL championship.
Perkins now has a chance to continue his story by competing with Jack Plummer for a spot with the Carolina Panthers, who just received news that Andy Dalton has an elbow injury, deemed serious enough to bring in a Quarterback with a decent amount of experience. Plummer despite spending all of 2024 with Carolina has yet to appear in an NFL contest while Perkins spent three seasons with the Rams, appearing in 5 games in 2022.
Perkins becomes the 2nd QB from the UFL to sign with an NFL team joining Dresser Winn. So far since 2022, all UFL/USFL MVPs have earned an NFL contract with Perkins joining Turpin, McGough, and Adrian Martinez. Even more important all of the previously mentioned players have stayed on a roster for at least a year.
While many could view Perkins signing to Carolina, as a camp body it is worth noting that he does have a chance to push for a QB3 due to his experience, along with the possibility of being a temporary QB2 option depending on the extent of Dalton’s injury. On the UFL side, the Panthers could start planning from moving on from the MVP as they have signed their 2024 Draft Pick, Rocky Lombardi.
Perkins to Carolina becomes the 6th QB transaction this season which include Two NFL signings, Two Re-signings, a retirement and a release.