April 2, 2026, 12:45 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Carolina Panthers<\/a> may not have to search too far for their perfect draft pairing.<\/p>\n NFL.com’s Eric Edholm recently named<\/a> each team’s ideal top two picks for 2026. For the Panthers, he begins with Clemson University offensive tackle Blake Miller at the 19th overall spot:<\/p>\n Carolina has\u00a0never\u00a0drafted a player out of Clemson. That streak would end here with Miller, who can replace\u00a0Taylor Moton\u00a0after this season and, at the very least, step in as a quality option if needed in the meantime. Moton has been an iron man for years, but the Panthers could add more athleticism up front.<\/p>\n In addition to making some history, taking this Tiger would give the Panthers an heir apparent to Moton\u2014who has manned the right side in Carolina for eight seasons. The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Miller was a four-year starter as the right tackle for Clemson, and enters the pros as a two-time first-team All-ACC selection (2024, 2025).<\/p>\n Edholm then goes two hours down the road to the University of South Carolina, where he nabs cornerback Brandon Cisse with the 51st selection:<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n Their second pick, Cisse, also would be local, but that was strictly a coincidence. Carolina could stand to add more depth and speed to its defensive back end, as well.<\/p>\n Starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both put in standout 2025 campaigns. But the depth behind them has proven to be a weakness, as displayed during Horn’s late-game absence in the team’s playoff loss<\/a> to the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n Cisse, a Sumter, S.C. native, also played two years of college ball at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n