Panthers face key first-round decision at No. 19 as 2026 NFL Draft approaches
The Panthers have not ruled out another first-round wide receiver, though several other positions could make an immediate impact.
WILL BE THE NEW YORK GIANTS, THIS TIME THROUGH A TRADE. RIGHT NOW, THE CAROLINA PANTHERS WILL MAKE THEIR FIRST SELECTION IN ROUND ONE UNTIL PICK 19 AGAIN. THAT IS, IF THEY KEEP THAT PICK AND GENERAL MANAGER DAN MORGAN TOLD OUR SPORTS TEAM HE’S IN THE BEST PLAYER MINDSET WHEN IT COMES TO THIS YEAR’S DRAFT. BUT THAT’S NOT THE ONLY ONE GUIDING THE CAROLINA PANTHERS. WXII 12 SPORTS REPORTER CHANEL PORTER IS IN STUDIO TONIGHT TO EXPLAIN AND LOOK AHEAD. CHANEL IF YOU’RE A BIG FOOTBALL FAN, LIKE I KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT IS. THIS IS REALLY WHEN THINGS START TO GET EXCITING FOR THE 2026 SEASON. I EVEN HAD PEOPLE BE LIKE, OH MY GOSH, IT’S ALREADY DRAFT SEASON. AND WITH THE NEW DRAFT CLASS COMING TO CHARLOTTE LATER THIS WEEK, THEY’LL QUICKLY LEARN ABOUT A MANTRA IN CAROLINA THAT CARRIES A LEGACY FAR BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL. FOR THE PANTHERS, KEEP POUNDING ISN’T JUST THE SAYING IT’S ABOUT ENDURING THE HEARTBEAT THAT IS SAM MILLS. TWO WORDS, ONE IDENTITY. IN CAROLINA KEEP POUNDING. IT’S MORE THAN A CHANT. IT’S A MINDSET, A STANDARD, AND A PROMISE. IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT A GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS SAT IN A ROOM AND SAID, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A MANTRA FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ORGANICALLY, AND I THINK THAT GIVES IT EVEN MORE POWER. WHETHER IT’S POUNDING THE DRUM OR POUNDING ON THE FIELD, IT’S THE HEARTBEAT OF THE CAROLINA PANTHERS, AND IT ALL TRACES BACK TO ONE VOICE. LEGENDARY LINEBACKER SAM MILLS FROM A HALL OF FAME PLAYER TURNED COACH IN CHARLOTTE MILLS, GAVE A SPEECH TO HIS TEAM THAT AT THE TIME, THE GROUP HAD NO IDEA HOW LEGENDARY IT WOULD BECOME. IT WAS THE PLAYOFF GAME AND IT WAS LIKE THE GAME TOMORROW NIGHT. IT WON’T ALWAYS GO OUR WAY, BUT WE JUST GOT TO KEEP POUNDING. SOMETIMES IN LIFE YOU GET DEALT A HAND. HE GOES, I’VE BEEN DEALT A HAND, BUT I JUST KEEP POUNDING AND HE GOES OUT IN EVERY FACET OF MY LIFE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF IT WAS LIKE, MAN, WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO WIN. THAT SPEECH CAME WHILE MILLS WAS BATTLING TERMINAL CANCER. AND THROUGH EVERY SETBACK, EVERY CHALLENGE, HE KEPT POUNDING. A CONSTANT SOURCE OF ENERGY, A BELIEF AND A FIGHT COMES RIGHT BY ME AND KIND OF TAPS ME ON THE BEHIND AND. ALL RIGHT, JAKE, LET’S GO SEE IF WE CAN GET BETTER THIS WEEK. AND AT THAT MOMENT, I HAD A WAKE UP AND QUIT FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. IT’S MY FIRST YEAR STARTING. SOME OF MY BODY WAS. YOU KNOW, YOU’RE BATTLING AS YOU’RE GOING THROUGH THE SEASON. AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, HERE’S A GUY THAT’S DYING GOING THROUGH CHEMO AND RADIATION, AND HE’S GOING OUT TO THE PRACTICE FIELD AND HE’S ABOUT READY TO RUN SOME 100 SECONDS FOR PRACTICE. AND HERE I AM FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I GOT HIT A FEW TIMES THE WEEK BEFORE, AND I’M PROCESSING A NEW GAME PLAN. AND THAT WAS KIND OF A A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR ME. IT’S JUST A DIFFERENT MINDSET THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE. MILLS PASSED AWAY IN 2005, BUT HIS WORDS, THEY NEVER LEFT. HIS LEGACY STILL ECHOES THROUGH BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM. EVERY SNAP, EVERY HIT, EVERY SUNDAY. SAM’S STORY JUST BECAME A RALLYING CRY. RALLYING CRY FOR THE ORGANIZATION. I THINK IT’S FANTASTIC THAT WE KEEP THAT MEMORY ALIVE AND SO MANY PLAYERS, THEY KNOW IT’S IT’S STITCHED ON THE INSIDE OF EVERY JERSEY. WE HAVE TO KEEP POUNDING, DRUM, THE STATE, THE STATUE OUTSIDE THE STADIUM. IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE FOOTBALL PLAYER. NOW, THE FIRST THING THAT THE PANTHERS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK DOES WHEN TOUCHING DOWN IN CHARLOTTE IS HIT. THE KEEP
Panthers face key first-round decision at No. 19 as 2026 NFL Draft approaches
The Panthers have not ruled out another first-round wide receiver, though several other positions could make an immediate impact.
Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Apr 21, 2026
Panthers weighing options with No. 19The Carolina Panthers head into the 2026 NFL Draft with seven picks, including No. 19 overall, after an 8-9 season that was good enough to win the NFC South and send Carolina to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.Wide receiver still in playCarolina has not ruled out taking another wide receiver at No. 19. If the Panthers go that route, this year’s pick would follow in the footsteps of 2025 pick Tetairoa McMillan and 2024 pick Xavier Legette Further fueling that possibility, ESPN reporter Jordan Reid said Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. visited with the Panthers this month and could be an option at No. 19 overall. Other needs on the boardWide receiver is not Carolina’s only need.ESPN named safety, wide receiver and edge as the Panthers’ biggest needs, with tight end and offensive tackle also in the mix. Tight end could provide a short-pass option, something Dave Canales has expressed interest in, while offensive tackle could offer more protection for Bryce Young. Panthers 2026 draft picksRound 1, Pick 19Round 2, Pick 51Round 3, Pick 83Round 4, Pick 119Round 5, Pick 158Round 5, Pick 159Round 6, Pick 200Draft Schedule:Round 1: Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m.Rounds 2 – 3: Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m.Rounds 4 – 7: Saturday, April 25 at noonRELATED CONTENT:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
Panthers weighing options with No. 19
The Carolina Panthers head into the 2026 NFL Draft with seven picks, including No. 19 overall, after an 8-9 season that was good enough to win the NFC South and send Carolina to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Wide receiver still in play
Carolina has not ruled out taking another wide receiver at No. 19.
If the Panthers go that route, this year’s pick would follow in the footsteps of 2025 pick Tetairoa McMillan and 2024 pick Xavier Legette
Further fueling that possibility, ESPN reporter Jordan Reid said Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. visited with the Panthers this month and could be an option at No. 19 overall.
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Following Pro Day today, Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. will head to Carolina for a 30 visit with the Panthers, per source. They’ve done a lot of work on receivers and Cooper Jr. could be an option at No. 19 overall. pic.twitter.com/dBBgzMJV4E
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 1, 2026
Other needs on the board
Wide receiver is not Carolina’s only need.
ESPN named safety, wide receiver and edge as the Panthers’ biggest needs, with tight end and offensive tackle also in the mix.
Tight end could provide a short-pass option, something Dave Canales has expressed interest in, while offensive tackle could offer more protection for Bryce Young.
Panthers 2026 draft picks
Round 1, Pick 19Round 2, Pick 51Round 3, Pick 83Round 4, Pick 119Round 5, Pick 158Round 5, Pick 159Round 6, Pick 200
Draft Schedule:
Round 1: Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m.Rounds 2 – 3: Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m.Rounds 4 – 7: Saturday, April 25 at noon
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