The Carolina Panthers were a surprise playoff team this past season, winning the NFC South with an 8-9 record. Their defense finished the season 16th in yards allowed per game and 15th in points scored against per game.
Carolina has several young players to build around, but they need to continue adding pieces in order to take it to the next level.
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Carolina Panthers NFL Draft Targets: Defense
Below, we’ll list five defensive players the Panthers should target in the 2026 NFL Draft.
1. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Peter Woods is the best defensive tackle prospect in this class, and pairing him with Derrick Brown would give them one of the better defensive tackle duos in the league.
Woods brings good pass rush and strong run defense to your team at just 21 years old when the season starts. This would also help the Panthers’ young pass rushers.
2. Chris Johnson Jr., CB, San Diego State
The Panthers need another cornerback, and Chris Johnson Jr is one of the best in the class. Johnson is best when he is in zone coverage, and the Panthers play zone as much as anyone.
Johnson’s athleticism, quick feet, and vision allow him to sit in his zone, break on his passes, and make plays. He can be a ballhawk corner for the Panthers, opposite of Jayce Horn.
3. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Panthers’ starting free safety, Nick Scott, is going to be a free agent, and the Panthers could use an upgrade anyway. Dillon Thieneman can step in day one and be an impactful, versatile safety all over the field.
If they want him in deep zone, he can do that. If the Panthers need him to play the slot, he can do that. Thieneman is a top prospect and would help the Panthers in a number of ways.
4. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
The Panthers have two young pass rushers in Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. Scourton had a good rookie season, finishing with five sacks.
Umanmielen hasn’t made the impact the Panthers hoped for yet, so adding another edge to rotate with them makes a ton of sense. R Mason Thomas reminds people of Nik Bonitto in the way he plays. If the Panthers can get anything close to that, it would be a huge addition.
5. Harold Perkins Jr, LB, LSU
Harold Perkins is a bit of a wild card player in this draft. Perkins in 2022 and 2023 looked like a first-round player. Then he was injured in 2024 and wasn’t quite the same guy in 2025.
If you believe he is going to be closed to those first two years after another year of healing, Carolina could be getting a star. Perkins blends pass-rush ability with athleticism and skill in the open field. This is a combination not many can do.
Even though Perkins may not get back to his past self, he is worth the risk in the mid rounds.
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