🏈 Panthers NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
After investing heavily in their pass rush by signing Jaelan Phillips to a $120 million deal opposite Nic Scourton, the Carolina Panthers hold the No. 19 pick and need to keep building around Bryce Young and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan under Dave Canales' offense.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Panthers' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Carolina will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Panthers draft picks 2026
See where the Panthers rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 19 |
| 2 | No. 51 |
| 3 | No. 83 |
| 4 | No. 119 |
| 5 | No. 158, 159 |
| 6 | No. 200 |
| 7 | No pick |
🆘 Panthers team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: WR, TE, DL, S, OL
- Key additions: Jaelan Phillips (EDGE), Devin Lloyd (LB), Luke Fortner (C), Rasheed Walker (OT), Kenny Pickett (QB)
- Key departures: Rico Dowdle (RB, Steelers), Brady Christensen (OG), Austin Corbett (OG, Bills), D.J. Wonnum (EDGE, Lions), A'Shawn Robinson (DT, Buccaneers), D'Anthony Bell (S, Seahawks)
The edge rush is in great shape after the Phillips signing, but Carolina still needs another weapon for Young beyond McMillan and an inconsistent Xavier Legette entering his third season. Tight end is a real gap on this roster and could be addressed with a premium pick. Safety remains a concern after Bell's departure, and the interior defensive line could use reinforcement alongside Derrick Brown now that Robinson is in Tampa Bay.
🏈 Panthers draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Panthers' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 19 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon | 7.20 | Adding Sadiq at tight end to complement last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan, makes too much sense - Sadiq is a mismatch with his explosiveness and can line up in-line as a Y or be an F who bullies defensive backs |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Denzel Boston, WR, Washington | 7.10 | If Carolina wants to give Bryce Young another proven ball winner on the outside, Boston's contested-catch ability (76.9% contested catch rate) and size make him a reliable target who can start from Day 1 |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo | 7.15 | With safety being a need on this roster, McNeil-Warren's combination of length, range, and physicality would give Ejiro Evero a versatile enforcer who can play single-high or come down into the box |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
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➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Panthers mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Panthers' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Carolina to draft at No. 19:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Denzel Boston, WR, Washington |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon |
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is the runaway favorite for the Panthers across the six mock drafts we surveyed - the strongest consensus for any NFC South team to match Paul's pick and dream scenario. Only Reuter (Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman) and Renner (Washington receiver Denzel Boston) break from the pack, projecting Carolina to address the secondary or receiver corps instead.
🔮 Panthers draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 19: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
- Pro comparison: Vernon Davis
- Measurables: 6'3" | 241 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.52
The Carolina Panthers have no choice but to hope Bryce Young continues to progress under Dave Canales. And to do so, GM Dan Morgan must invest more draft capital in playmakers. Adding Kenyon Sadiq at tight end to complement last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan, makes too much sense. Sadiq is a mismatch with his explosiveness (4.39 40, 43 1/2" vertical). He can line up in-line as a Y (he's a willing blocker) or be an F who bullies defensive backs with his size.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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