Carolina Panthers 2026 NFL Draft Pick Order and Big Board for Top Needs

The Carolina Panthers end the 2025 season with eight wins. At 8-9, and after being eliminated in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs, they pick No. 19 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Each week this season, B/R NFL Scouting Dept.'s Matt Holder highlighted every team's biggest needs and potential 2026 draft prospects who could fill them.

This updated big board is a summation of the scouting done this season and before NFL teams begin the free agency process in March.

All prospect rankings reflected are the latest B/R NFL Draft Scouting Dept. Big Board.

2026 Draft Pick

AP Photo

Panthers 2025 1st Round Pick Tetairoa McMillan

1st Round: 19 (19 overall)

2nd Round: 19 (51)

3rd Round: 19 (83)

4th Round: 19 (119)

5th Round: 18 (156 - via MIN), 19 (157)

6th Round: 19 (198)

7th Round: 19 (235)

Order via Tankathon.

Center

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Auburn C Connor Lew

It feels like the Panthers have been looking for a while now, asking Austin Corbett and Cade Mays to change positions a couple of years ago. With Corbett and Mays set to hit free agency in the offseason, it's time to find a more permanent solution at the pivot.

Jake Slaughter, Florida (No. 119)

Connor Lew, Auburn (No. 120)

Logan Jones, Iowa (No. 135)

Quarterback

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Alabama QB Ty Simpson

This offseason, all eyes are going to be on what Carolina decides to do when it comes to picking up Bryce Young's fifth-year option. That could depend on how the front office feels about this year's quarterback class, as a strong case could be made that it makes sense to move on from Young, given his unstable play.

Ty Simpson, Alabama (No. 30)

Carson Beck, Miami (No. 57)

Cade Klubnik, Clemson (No. 71)

Linebacker

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Georgia LB CJ Allen

Christian Rozeboom is an impending free agent, creating a need for at least one starting linebacker on the Panthers' defense. Also, the team can find an upgrade over Trevin Wallace since this year's draft class has a lot of top-end talent at the position.

CJ Allen, Georgia (No. 35)

Deontae Lawson, Alabama (No. 46)

Jake Golday, Cincinnati (No. 53)

Tight End

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Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

The early returns on Ja'Tavion Sanders have been low. Whether it's Bryce Young or someone else at quarterback for the Panthers moving forward, the offense could use a good tight end to throw to.

Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (No. 15)

Jack Endries, Texas (No. 44)

Max Klare, Ohio State (No. 55)

Safety

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Penn State S Zakee Wheatley

The Panthers opened up the checkbook for Tre'von Moehrig in free agency last year, but the defense's other starting safety, Nick Scott, is only on a one-year deal. Given the investment in Moehrig, it'd make sense for Carolina to use the draft to replace Scott.

Zakee Wheatley, Penn State (No. 26)

Dillon Thieneman, Oregon (No. 29)

Kamari Ramsey, USC (No. 39)