March 18, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET
If the Carolina Panthers are looking to spend a third straight first-round draft pick on a receiver, then a local product may be worth the price.
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah had his most recent mock draft published on Tuesday. His third set of projections has the Panthers using the 19th overall selection on Texas A&M wideout and Charlotte, N.C. product Kevin “KC” Concepcion.
Jeremiah writes:
The Panthers add more firepower for Bryce Young. With his ability to separate before and after the catch, Concepcion forms a strong pass-catching trio with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
Concepcion, who was born in Rochester, N.Y., moved to Charlotte at the age of three. He’d go on to attend Julius L. Chambers High School and play his first two years of college ball at North Carolina State.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
His final collegiate campaign came for the Aggies in 2025, where he reeled in 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. The speedy All-American was also a threat on special teams, as he returned an SEC-leading 25 punts at an average of 18.2 yards per attempt.
The Panthers used their last two first-rounders on the wide receiver position, taking Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth pick in 2025.
Follow our free agency tracker for all the latest moves.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.