{"id":865713,"date":"2026-04-13T20:18:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/865713\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T20:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:18:32","slug":"espn-named-the-biggest-draft-needs-for-the-carolina-panthers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/865713\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN Named the Biggest Draft Needs for the Carolina Panthers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Dan\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

ESPN has named the three biggest needs for the Carolina Panthers in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft as safety, wide receiver, and edge rusher.<\/p>\n

In the two seasons the Carolina Panthers<\/a> have been coached by Dave Canales, they\u2019ve taken strides toward being more competitive in the NFC. That includes winning the NFC South in 2025, despite still having a losing record.<\/p>\n

Now, the Panthers want to find a way to take another step in the right direction by improving their roster this offseason. The NFL<\/a> Draft is a perfect opportunity to do just that, addressing current needs with picks who should be in Carolina for the next few seasons.<\/p>\n

Just as important as figuring out the best players in the NFL Draft is figuring out what positions a team needs to address most of all. David Newton of ESPN recently took on the task of figuring that out for the Panthers, landing on safety, wide receiver, and edge rusher as the most important positions of need in Carolina.<\/p>\n

Why These are the Three Positions of Need for the Carolina Panthers\"Dave<\/p>\n

GettyCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales<\/p>\n

The Carolina Panthers are entering a very important season for the franchise. They have the opportunity to build on last season\u2019s success, but there is no promise they will do so. That\u2019s why Newton thinks safety, wide receiver, and edge rusher need to be on their minds during the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Panthers\u00a0re-signed\u00a0safety\u00a0Nick Scott, but he still has coverage deficiencies despite 111 tackles last season (second most on the team). Carolina also needs a more impactful receiver behind 2025 first-round pick\u00a0Tetairoa McMillan<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jalen Coker<\/a>,\u201d Newton wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite signing\u00a0Jaelan Phillips<\/a> in free agency and taking\u00a0Nic Scourton<\/a> in the second round last year, finding another impactful edge rusher to develop also remains a need. As general manager Dan Morgan has said repeatedly, you can\u2019t have too many pass rushers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the offseason, there have been rumors about how the Panthers are looking to build around Bryce Young<\/a> and give him the opportunity to succeed. That has trickled into preparation for the NFL Draft. That has included mock drafts<\/a> calling for the Panthers to take star tight ends, proposed trades<\/a> for former first-round receivers, and even being named a potential landing spot<\/a> for star free agent receivers.<\/p>\n

Panthers Free Agency Addition Criticized as Among the Worst Signings\"Jaelan<\/p>\n

GettyPhiladelphia Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips<\/p>\n

The Carolina Panthers have already looked to address edge rusher through free agency. There, they landed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips on a four-year, $120 million contract.<\/p>\n

Not everyone was happy with that contract, though. In fact, Bleacher Report ranked<\/a> it as one of the 10 worst signings in free agency this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty million a season is a lot to give a player whose career high in sacks (8.5) came as a rookie with the\u00a0Miami Dolphins<\/a> in 2021,\u201d Gary Davenport wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that only New York Giants<\/a>\u00a0edge-rusher Abdul Carter<\/a> had fewer sacks last year with more than 50-plus pressures isn\u2019t the only issue with Phillips. His pass-rush win rate last year with the\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> was under 10 percent, and he has a lengthy injury history\u2014he ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2023 and tore his ACL the following year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Panthers clearly saw something in Phillips that Davenport doesn\u2019t see to give him a four-year contract. The hope is that he can find a way to the player he was earlier in his career, before those injuries derailed his previous success.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDan Morrison<\/a> After graduating from UMass in 2019, Dan Morrison quickly began a career in sports journalism and digital media. That has seen him work both as a contributing writer at several publications, as well as spending time on the National News Desk at On3. During that time, he has spent the majority of his time covering football, both at the college and NFL levels. Currently residing in Central Florida, his focus with Heavy is on the NFL. More about Dan Morrison<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Panthers\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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