Feb. 9, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ET

For the Carolina Panthers, the 2025 season ended almost exactly one month ago—with a heartbreaking wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But for the whole of the NFL, the campaign officially finished up on Sunday night—as the Seattle Seahawks hoisted the Lombardi Trophy following their triumph over the New England Patriots.

So, now that the year is completely in the books, it may be time to give you a fresh seven-round mock draft to begin the offseason.

Here, straight off Super Bowl LX, are our latest projections for the Panthers:

First round (No. 19 overall): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Carolina needs a home-run hitter on offense, but they may not be ready to give up on 2024 first-round wideout Xavier Legette just yet. So, how about we add one at another position instead?

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Sadiq is an exceptionally athletic and well-rounded receiver. He can light up the route tree, eat up yards after the catch, establish his presence in the end zone and even pose as a vertical threat.

The Panthers haven’t had a tight end hit the 400-yard receiving mark since 2019. Not only could Sadiq finally fortify the position, but he has the potential to make life a whole lot easier on quarterback Bryce Young—who’s set to enter a very important 2026 campaign.

Second round (No. 51 overall): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

The inside linebacker position has also been a sore spot in Carolina for far too long. With all due respect to the players who were forced to step up in both 2024 and 2025, the defense can’t have special teamers and off-the-street veterans man the middle of the unit if they want to take the next step forward.

Golday, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, is a freakish athlete. He’s explosive, he hits hard, he tackles well and he brings some extra tenacity to the field.

Perhaps it’s fitting that the Panthers, right before Luke Kuechly’s Hall of Fame enshrinement in the summer, take a swing at securing their next great ‘backer.

Third round (No. 83 overall): Dani Denis-Sutton, EDGE/DL, Penn State

This offseason’s trade and free-agent markets may present the Panthers with a solution or two to their pass-rushing woes. But it doesn’t hurt to add one through the draft.

At 6-foot-5 and around 265 pounds, Denis-Sutton may translate best as a defensive end—not an outside linebacker—in Carolina’s 3-4 front. He could, however, carry enough versatility to stand up if needed and brings some pro-ready run defense to the table.

Remarkably enough, he’s quite comparable to another Penn State product with a hyphenated surname—former Panthers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.

Fourth round (No. 119 overall): Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina

Kilgore has the size (6-foot-1, 207 pounds), athleticism and range to line up at both cornerback and safety.

The most alluring trait could be his ability to defend out of the slot, an area the Panthers defense has struggled with in recent seasons.

Fifth round (No. 157 overall): Bishop Fitzgerald, S, Southern California

We secure another exciting defensive back in Fitzgerald, who totaled 10 interceptions over his three collegiate campaigns.

Starting free safety Nick Scott is ticketed for the open market, and Carolina could use a ballhawk like Fitzgerald in the backend of their defense.

Fifth round (No. 158 overall): Logan Jones, C, Iowa

They could also use a new center, especially if Cade Mays wonders off in free agency.

Hitting up the offensive linemen factory in Iowa usually results in some pretty good business.

Sixth round (No. 199): TJ Guy, EDGE, Michigan

You can’t try for enough firepower off the edge.

Guy registered 10.0 sacks between his last two seasons at Michigan.

Seventh round (No. 235): Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin

With left tackle Ikem Ekwonu on the mend from a torn patellar tendon, the Panthers should be adding some depth in the offensive trench.

Mahlman has experience on both sides.

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