Panthers draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

How can the Carolina Panthers repeat as NFC South champions? It all starts with a good offseason.

General manager Dan Morgan got the party started early with a strong group of free agent signings. His next test will be an even bigger one: the 2026 NFL Draft.

Morgan worked to upgrade the biggest weak points on the Panthers' roster in free agency when he signed linebacker Devin Lloyd, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. Each player was among the best available in free agency at his position, but Carolina still needs more young talent on the roster to complement the veterans.

Headed into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Panthers have seven picks – six of their own, plus one acquired from the Vikings in the Adam Thielen trade. If Carolina wants to start a streak of NFC South titles, nailing its picks in the draft is the way to set up the Panthers for sustained success around quarterback Bryce Young.

Here's a look at the Panthers' collection of picks in the upcoming NFL draft, along with their draft needs and a mock draft of potential fits at each pick.

Panthers 2026 NFL Draft picks

The Panthers have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:

• Round 1, Pick 19: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
  • Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis: Only 21, he may be the best pure left tackle prospect in this draft, and his potential was evident during the combine’s on-field drills. But with only 16 college starts, Freeling still has a lot to learn as he heads up the road. And yet there may not be inordinate pressure on him to play immediately with Rasheed Walker under contract for 2026.
• Round 2, Pick 49 (from Vikings): DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
  • Enormously strong, if not especially athletic, he also plays with a high-revving motor − though not one that will necessarily keep him on the field after second down (he had 7½ sacks in four college seasons). But the 6-4, 318-pounder will shut down ground games.
• Round 3, Pick 83: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
  • At 6-foot-4, 198 pounds, he’s got the height/weight/speed combo after posting a 4.37 40 at the combine. He also had a 1,000-yard campaign and an SEC-high nine TD grabs in 2025. But he has to prove he’s not a one-trick, deep threat pony who can adapt to a pro route tree after thriving in Tennessee’s vertical stretch offense.
• Round 4, Pick 129 (from Bears): CB Will Lee II, Texas A&M
  • Analysis from USA TODAY Sports: Carolina adds another imposing corner in the 6-2, 189-pound Lee. He sets the tone at the line of scrimmage, though he'll have to become a more consistent presence in all phases of coverage to become a starter down the line.
• Round 5, Pick 144 (from Bears): C Sam Hecht, Kansas State
  • The Panthers lost Cade Mays in free agency. They signed Luke Fortner to help replace him, but Hecht could easily emerge as the team's long-term starter at the position. Hecht demonstrated elite technique and should be a scheme-versatile pro. He showed good core strength during his time at Kansas State but will need to keep adding power to his 6-4, 303-pound frame to ensure he holds up against NFL-caliber defensive linemen.
• Round 5, Pick 151 (from Dolphins): S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
  • Wheatley easily could have been a Day 2 selection. The 6-2, 201-pounder is great against the run thanks to his downhill physicality and allowed a career-best 69.2 passer rating last season, per Pro Football Focus. He should quickly emerge as a well-rounded starter at the NFL level.
• Round 7, Pick 227 (from Dolphins): LB Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
  • Kuwatch was a one-year wonder at Miami (OH), but he generated 109 tackles, 10 TFL and five sacks and tested well at his Pro Day. His lack of experience could be an obstacle, but there is certainly upside.

The Panthers traded picks 51 and 159 to the Vikings for picks 49 and 196. Carolina traded picks 119 and 196 to the Jaguars for picks 124 and 166. The Panthers then traded picks 124 and 166 to the Bears for picks 129 and 144.

Carolina then traded picks 158 and 200 to the Dolphins for picks 151 and 227.

Panthers NFL draft grades

OT Monroe Freeling - Round 1, Pick 19: Grade B

Ikem Ekwonu is officially on notice. One month after signing Rasheed Walker as a contingency plan as Ekwonu recovers from a torn patellar tendon, the Panthers add another top tackle in Freeling. The ascendant blocker can boost Carolina's long-term protection profile without being rushed into action. Not bad for an offense still searching for ways to help Bryce Young take a leap. – Analysis from Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech - Round 2, Pick 49: Grade B-

Hunter has a big personality and an even bigger presence against the run game. He won't close in on many quarterbacks, but he'll demand double teams and own the middle.

WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee - Round 3, Pick 83: Grade A-

Dan Morgan continues to equip Bryce Young with downfield threats to open up Carolina's passing attack. Brazzell's lack of strength at the catch point could lead to some early turbulence, but he'll threaten defenses vertically and has the potential to expand his route tree.

CB Will Lee II, Texas A&M - Round 4, Pick 129: Grade B-

C Sam Hecht, Kansas State -Round 5, Pick 144: Grade A

S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State - Round 5, Pick 151: Grade A-

LB Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH) - Round 7, Pick 227: Grade B

Panthers undrafted free agent signings

The Panthers continue to build their roster by signing undrafted free agents. You can follow the complete team-by-team list for all 32 here.

Panthers 2026 NFL Draft needs

Safety

Carolina's biggest project entering the offseason was improving its defense. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan got to work on that early, signing linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips – two of the best available players at their respective positions.

But the need for a starting-caliber safety remains pressing for the Panthers' defense. Nick Scott is back on another one-year deal, but Carolina could have a chance to lock down a long-term answer at the position in one of the early rounds of this year's draft.

Wide receiver

Tetairoa McMillan proved to be everything Carolina had been hoping for when it made him the No. 8 overall pick in last year's draft. He quickly found chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for his efforts in a 1,014-yard, seven-touchdown season.

The Panthers still need to give Young more help in their receiving corps after Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker both finished 2025 with fewer than 400 yards. If Carolina doesn't address safety in the back half of the first round, it should consider bringing in another first-round receiver to pair with McMillan.

Panthers 2026 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Panthers could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

• Round 1, Pick 19: WR Makai Lemon, USC
• Round 2, Pick 51: CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
• Round 3, Pick 83: S Genesis Smith, Arizona
• Round 4, Pick 119: C Sam Hecht, Kansas State
• Round 5, Pick 158 (from Vikings): IOL Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
• Round 5, Pick 159: Traded to Ravens
• Round 5, Pick 174 (from Ravens): Edge Trey Moore, Texas
• Round 6, Pick 200: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama
• Round 7, Pick 253 (from Ravens): Edge Zach Durfee, Washington