Panthers Draft Strategy: Big Decisions at Pick 19

The Carolina Panthers are back in the first round with the 19th overall pick! After a promising season that saw Bryce Young take a leap and Tetairoa McMillan emerge as a star, Dan Morgan and Dave Canales are now tasked with taking this roster to the next level.

In today’s video, we are breaking down the three biggest areas of concern heading into the 2026 NFL Draft:

Edge Rusher: Can we finally find a consistent pass rush to pair with Nic Scourton?

Off-Ball Linebacker: Is it time to find the next great Carolina LB to lead the defense?

Offensive Line/TE: Do we need more protection for Bryce or a playmaking safety valve?

We’ll discuss why some analysts are calling him a “brick wall” and how he could transform our interior defense alongside Derrick Brown.

What do you want to see the Panthers do at 19? Drop your mock draft picks in the comments below!

8 comments

  5. Here's my opinion on our NEEDS this OFFSEASON

    1. EDGE RUSHER
    I would prefer we bring someone in via free agency or trade. The big name out there connected to us is Trey Hendrickson, but honestly, I'd rather we go YOUNGER, so maybe drafting a Keldric Faulk or TJ Parker is more ideal so they can grow with our team.

    2. LINEBACKER
    I have been saying for the longest time that LINEBACKER has been our biggest weakness. I think we should keep Christian Rozeboom as a veteran inside our current locker room because the big name out there, Devin Lloyd, I think, will re-sign with the Jaguars. Trevin Wallace is NOT a starter, just a depth guy, so I've been SCREAMING from the rooftops for us to draft SONNY STYLES!!!! I WANT SONNY STYLES SOOOOOO BADLY, but if we can't get him, I want Anthony Hill Jr, CJ Allen, or maybe Josiah Trotter. I want someone young who is a THUMPER and can COVER TIGHT ENDS.

    3. FREE SAFETY
    This has been another position that I've been complaining about over the last 2 years that we need to improve. I like Tre'von Moehrig and Lathan Ransom, but those guys are "in the box safeties." I want someone who is a BALLHAWK!!!!! ED REED TYPE. The veteran out there that catches my attention is Kevin Byard, who would be a better option than Nick Scott, but if we were to go younger, the names that catch my attention are: Dillion Thieneman, A.J. Haulcy, or Kamari Ramsey. For context, I thought we should have drafted Xavier Watts last year, but we let him go to the Falcons SMH

    4. OFFENSIVE LINEMAN (LT/RT & Center)
    The Ikey injury is a BIG DEAL, and honestly, it was sooooo unforeseen, but the problem is, do you want to draft high for a LT replacement, or look for a replacement in free agency? For me personally, you have to go in with the assumption that Ikey will be OUT for the ENTIRE SEASON so with that premise, you may be forced to draft high in the draft for this possible 1st or 2nd round. If we do take a TACKLE that early, I think it should be someone who can play LT & RT because this person needs to be a Taylor Moton replacement as well. When it comes to CENTER I would like to run in back with Cade Mays, but I'm not opposed to the Panthers drafting a Center in the later rounds if they want to do that. I don't think we will get the big fish, Tyler Linderbaum, because I think he follows Jim Harbaugh to the NY Giants, so I'm all for re-signing Yosh Nijman & Brady Christensen. I DON'T WANT TO SEE AUSTIN CORBETT BACK HERE. I HAD ENOUGH OF HIM AND HIS INJURIES!!!!!!

    5. WIDE RECEIVER #3
    I like our current WR room, but there is always room for improvement. It's clear that T-MAC is our #1 WR, and Jalen Coker is our #2 after that; everyone else is a bit of a question mark. The obvious is to re-sign Jalen Coker; beyond that, I personally like to add a free agent like Romeo Doubs, Rashid Shaheed, and Wandale Robinson as a #3 WR. I think Doubs may want to go to the Dolphins to follow Jeff Hafley, so Wandale Robinson is more than likely the one we should target. I have ZERO FAITH in Xavier Legette as a #2 or #3 WR. I was NEVER a fan of him before he was drafted because I NEVER trust players who are "one-year wonders." Everyone wanted him because he's from SC and his accent, but I knew he was NOT going to be a good player, and so far I've been proven RIGHT (for context, I wanted AD Mitchell). I really like Jimmy Horn Jr and I want him to eventually be our WR #3 because his speed adds some versatility in our WR room. The coaches FAILED to feature him in the OFFENSE and I didn't like that at all. Brycen Tremayne is good for special teams, and David Moore is great to have in the locker room because he's a vet who knows the system, plus he can play on special teams and practice squad if needed

    6. TIGHT END
    In a bunch of mock drafts all year, I've seen tight end constantly mocked to us, and the name I've seen attached to us is Kenyon Sadiq, and honestly, I don't get it because to me, Ja'Tavion Sanders has a very similar build and game to Sadiq, so why draft a player we already have? As I said about our OFFENSE failing to feature Jimmy Horn Jr. more, I feel the same way about Ja'Tavion Sanders. He needs to get more touches, but he also needs to be more consistent as a player. I'm willing to give it one more shot with Sanders, but if he doesn't improve next year, then we look for a TIGHT END. Tommy Tremble to me will forever be a #2 TIGHT END, and Mitchell Evans has potential, but I want to see more. When it comes to free agent options, the big names are Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedart, and David Njoku, all names that I'm not impressed by. Some other names to possibly pay attention to are Dawson Knox and TJ Hockenson, who may be cap casualties

    OUR CURRENT DRAFT PICKS
    Round 1: #19
    Round 2: #51
    Round 3: #83
    Round 4: #119
    Round 5: #156 & #157
    Round 6: #198
    Round 7: #235

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