The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South in 2025 with an 8-9 record. Although their season ended in a 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Wild Card round, the squad has much to build on moving forward to the 2026 NFL season.
With Bryce Young emerging as an NFL caliber starter, the Panthers roared offensively at times with rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan establishing himself as the team’s top wide receiver. On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers leaned on rising stars like Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, edge rusher Nic Scourton and safety Tre’von Moehrig.
Can Panthers continue to build around the foundation that is being established in Carolina?
In signing Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd in free agency, the Panthers showed they mean business. Will that aggressive roster building continue in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Here’s a look at recent NFL mock drafts with predictions varying on who will be that next aggressive move at No. 19.
NFL.com NFL Mock Draft: Panthers add another big man in the middle
With the additions of Phillips and Lloyd, the Panthers addressed a couple of key needs at pass rusher and linebacker, but should they be done addressing the front seven?Â
NFL.com’s Nick Shook says no in his latest mock draft with the Panthers adding former Texas Tech star Lee Hunter to the mix as a clog in the middle who can defend against the run.
Shook writes:
“Adding an excellent run defender next to ascending pass rusher Derrick Brown makes the most sense for a Panthers defense that already upgraded at edge rusher and inside linebacker this offseason. The potential of shaping the interior into a dynamic brick wall convinces former linebacker and current Panthers GM Dan Morgan to turn in the card.”
Hunter checks that box in a massive way. Playing alongside David Bailey and Romello Height, the 6-foot-3, 318-pound Hunter led all of college football in run-defense stops in both 2024 and 2025. A physical presence in the middle, the high motor of Hunter will stand out as he is a versatile nose tackle who can play either the 3-4 or 4-3. Should he go as high as No. 19? If the Panthers like the fit, he is worth it.
CBS Sports’ NFL Mock Draft: Panthers add another cornerback talent
While Hunter is a player who can create havoc in the middle of the defensive line, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards feels No. 19 is a great spot for the Panthers to add even more talent in the defensive backfield by selecting Clemson product Avieon Terrell.
Edwards writes:
“Carolina continues stockpiling defensive talent. After signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, the Panthers address the secondary with Aveion Terrell, who has the versatility to play inside or out.”
While this is not a top position of need for the Panthers, the idea of adding a versatile defender like Terrell is not a bad idea.Â
With Dillon Thieneman going one slot ahead of Terrell to the Minnesota Vikings and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren going a slot behind to the Dallas Cowboys in Edwards’ recent mock draft, there will be an opportunity for the Panthers to address safety.Â
The Panthers have Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson as their starting corners so Terrell could in theory challenge Chau Smith-wade for the nickel/slot role which would give Carolina one of the top corner groups with the addition of Terrell. The downside is that safety is a greater need and either Thieneman or McNeil-Warren could make the defensive group even better.
Cat Crave: Panthers keep the pressure on offensively
Our sister site Cat Crave feels Panthers’ GM Dan Morgan is building something in Carolina and wants him to continue being aggressive by adding more to the offensive side of the ball to help young quarterback Bryce Young.
After selecting 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, Cat Crave’s Dean Jones has the Panthers pulling an aggressive move and adding Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson to form what could be a lethal tandem with McMillan.
Jones writes:
“Everything Tyson does seems effortless. He's a fluid mover with the size and speed to dominate. He's got the wide wingspan and physical profile to win in contested catch situations. He's also a yards after the catch threat in the short to intermediate areas of the field.”
Jones does have the Panthers going defense with their top pick on Day 2 with the selection of Jacob Rodriguez but adding explosive playmakers around Young will make the Panthers a tough team to deal with in 2026, especially with what they already added on defense.
Cat Crave: Panthers keep the pressure on offensively
Our sister site Cat Crave feels Panthers’ GM Dan Morgan is building something in Carolina and wants him to continue being aggressive by adding more to the offensive side of the ball to help young quarterback Bryce Young.
After selecting 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, Cat Crave’s Dean Jones has the Panthers pulling an aggressive move and adding Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson to form what could be a lethal tandem with McMillan.
Jones writes:
“Everything Tyson does seems effortless. He's a fluid mover with the size and speed to dominate. He's got the wide wingspan and physical profile to win in contested catch situations. He's also a yards after the catch threat in the short to intermediate areas of the field.”
Jones does have the Panthers going defense with their top pick on Day 2 with the selection of Jacob Rodriguez but adding explosive playmakers around Young will make the Panthers a tough team to deal with in 2026, especially with what they already added on defense.
NFL Mocks pick at No. 19
To summarize all three picks here, the Panthers have an opportunity to strengthen the team at three key areas. Tyson is the intriguing pick here because he does add more offensive punch paired with McMillan. The question is:  will the former Arizona State star slide to 19? If he does, the Panthers should pounce on the opportunity. If Tyson or Kenyon Sadiq is not there, defense is an obvious move.
While Hunter and Terrell will be fascinating additions, NFL Mocks went with McNeil-Warren to add to the safety group. It’s a position of high need and either Thieneman or McNeil-Warren are top prospects projected to land around where the Panthers will be selecting. As you see, No. 19 will be an intriguing spot for this NFC South squad. The Panthers really can’t go wrong with any of these picks.