Carolina Panthers 2026 Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, we will update our Carolina Panthers Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Carolina Panthers from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks from recent NFL mock drafts for the Carolina Panthers:

EDSFootball - Kevin Hanson

6. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

While Micah Parsons may hope to keep him in the DFW, Hill is an athletic do-everything linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range to make plays defending the run or in coverage. And he may be at his best wreaking havoc as a blitzer. The former five-star recruit finished 2024 with 113 tackles including 16.5 for loss, eight sacks and four forced fumbles.

CBS Sports - Josh Edwards

7. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

Carolina picked up Ikem Ekwonu's option, but there is a world where they move on from him after the season or potentially even convert him to offensive guard. Mauigoa would give them a new left tackle on a rookie contract. Mauigoa's older brother, Francisco, was drafted in the fifth round by the Jets.

ESPN - Jordan Reid

11. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

After the projected trade down, the Panthers would acquire extra draft capital and still have the chance to select Hill, the type of rangy middle linebacker that Carolina currently lacks. He's explosive with great range. His play speed and ability to sift through traffic make Hill a true sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker. But he can also get into the backfield, as his 15.5 tackles for loss was the 17th most among all FBS defenders in 2024. Carolina could use Hill as a blitzer.

MORE: Continue reading our 2026 Carolina Panthers Mock Draft Roundup

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2025 NFL Draft Grades: Carolina Panthers

The 2025 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror, and we have compiled a consensus ranking using NFL draft grades from a variety of sites.

What draft grades have the media given to the Carolina Panthers? What are they saying about the Panthers' 2025 draft haul?

CBS Sports - Grade: B-

Best Pick: I love fourth-round safety Lathan Ransom from Ohio State. He is a thumper in the run game and a guy who made a lot of plays for a good Buckeyes defense.

Worst Pick: I didn't really like the pick of Ole Miss edge Princely Umanmielen in the third. He has skills, but he isn't great against the run and he needs to get stronger.

The Skinny: They clearly wanted to get a weapon for Bryce Young and some edge help, which they did with their second- and third-round picks. They took receiver Tet McMillan in the first, which will help Young, but I worry about his separation speed. The two pass rushers in Nic Scourton (second) and Umanmielen have talent, but they didn't always play to it. Tight end Mitch Evans in the fifth could be a nice pick.

ESPN - Grade: C+

Top needs entering the draft: Linebacker, defensive tackle, wide receiver and edge rusher

In all four mock drafts I did for this class, I projected Carolina to take Jalon Walker at No. 8. It's never that easy, though, right?

The Panthers went a different route, adding receiver Tetairoa McMillan. At 6-foot-4, he brings in just about anything thrown in his direction, including contested catches. Quarterback Bryce Young will throw the ball up to him in the red zone and walk away with a touchdown more often than not. Think Drake London in Atlanta. McMillan doesn't generate much separation, though, which could be an issue against NFL corners. It's part of the reason I had him ranked 19th. Even so, there are some good, young receivers in this locker room now with McMillan, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. (Carolina also added Jimmy Horn Jr. in the sixth round.)

The defenders came on Day 2, though. Good thing. Here's a sampling of the categories in which Carolina's defense ranked last in the league in 2024: points allowed per game (31.4), rushing yards allowed per game (179.8), total yards per game (404.5), QBR allowed (64.8), yards per play (6.0), first downs allowed per game (24.5), opponents' third-down conversion percentage (50.2%) and run stop win rate (25%).

Nic Scourton spent some time in my top 25 during the season, but I ended up ranking him 58th. He closes well on the QB, but his sack count fell from 10 to five in 2024. I like his run-stopping traits, though. Don't sleep on his impact there. Princely Umanmielen was the other second-day selection, and he will push quarterbacks off their spots. His 17.9% pressure rate ranked fourth in the country last season.

I'm surprised GM Dan Morgan, a former linebacker, didn't do anything at the second level, but defensive tackle Cam Jackson in Round 5 and safety Lathan Ransom will give defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero some more depth to work with.

MORE: Carolina Panthers 2025 NFL Draft Grades Roundup


Carolina Panthers 2024 NFL Schedule

Below you will find the weekly regular-season schedule for the Carolina Panthers.

WeekDateOpponentResults
Week 1Sun., Sept. 8at New Orleans SaintsL 47-10
Week 2Sun., Sept. 15vs. Los Angeles ChargersL 26-3
Week 3Sun., Sept. 22at Las Vegas RaidersW 36-22
Week 4Sun., Sept. 29vs. Cincinnati BengalsL 34-24
Week 5Sun., Oct. 6at Chicago BearsL 36-10
Week 6Sun., Oct. 13vs. Atlanta FalconsL 38-20
Week 7Sun., Oct. 20at Washington CommandersL 40-7
Week 8Sun., Oct. 27at Denver BroncosL 28-14
Week 9Sun., Nov. 3vs. New Orleans SaintsW 23-22
Week 10Sun., Nov. 10vs. New York GiantsW 20-17 (OT)
Week 11BYE
Week 12Sun., Nov. 24vs. Kansas City ChiefsL 30-27
Week 13Sun., Dec. 1vs. Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 26-23 (OT)
Week 14Sun., Dec. 8at Philadelphia EaglesL 22-16
Week 15Sun., Dec. 15vs. Dallas CowboysL 30-14
Week 16Sun., Dec. 22vs. Arizona CardinalsW 36-30 (OT)
Week 17Sun., Dec. 29at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 48-14
Week 18Sun., Jan. 5at Atlanta FalconsW 44-38 (OT)

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Carolina Panthers - 2025 Draft Results

The table below are all of the 2025 NFL Draft picks selected by the Carolina Panthers.

RoundOverallPlayerPositionSchool
18Tetairoa McMillanWRArizona
251Nic ScourtonEDGETexas A&M
377Princely UmanmielenEDGEOle Miss
4114Trevor EtienneRBGeorgia
4122Lathan RansomSOhio State
5140Cam JacksonDTFlorida
5163Mitchell EvansTENotre Dame
6208Jimmy Horn Jr.WRColorado

More: 2025 NFL Draft Results - Carolina Panthers Draft History