2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Panthers

This is the danger zone of the draft.

Picks 17 through 20 typically belong to teams that hovered around the playoff picture — competitive enough to matter, flawed enough to be exposed. And in 2026, that description fits this group perfectly.

The Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers (whose selection now belongs to the Dallas Cowboys following the Micah Parsons trade) all enter draft weekend with real expectations — but also very real roster pressure points.

These aren’t teardown teams. They’re close.

But “close” in the NFL can mean very different things. For some, it’s about fixing a defense that couldn’t get off the field in January. For others, it’s about offensive consistency, depth in the trenches, or long-term answers at premium positions.

This range is often where teams must decide: double down on a strength or patch a weakness?

With veteran contracts maturing, cap flexibility tightening, and playoff windows narrowing, these selections carry more urgency than rebuilding picks at the top of the board. Miss here, and you stay stuck in the middle. Hit, and you’re hosting a playoff game next January.

In this batch, we break down:

The biggest roster holes for each franchise
Contract situations and future cap implications
Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
Potential fantasy football implications

These teams are close enough to contend — but not complete enough to coast.

Up next: the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and the Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay’s selection).

Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.

Pick 19: Carolina Panthers

Team Needs: DT, TE, EDGE, WR, S, OT

2026 Free Agent Key Losses: RB Rico Dowdle, C Cade Mays, EDGE D.J. Wonnum, DL A’Shawn Robinson, LB Christian Rozeboom

2026 Free Agents:

WR: Hunter Renfrow
TE: James Mitchell (RFA)
OL: OT Yosh Nijman, C Austin Corbett, G Brady Christensen, RT Jake Curhan
EDGE: Trevis Gipson, Thomas Incoom (RFA)
DL: LaBryan Ray (RFA),
LB: Krys Barnes, Claudin Cherelus (RFA)
CB: Damarri Mathis
S: D’Anthony Bell
ST: Sam Martin

2027 Free Agents:

QB: Bryce Young (CLUB), Kenny Pickett
RB: Anthony Tyus III (ERFA), Montrell Johnson (ERFA)
WR: David Moore, John Metchie, Dan Chisena, Ainias Smith (ERFA), Ja’seem Reed (ERFA), Bryce Tremayne (ERFA)
TE: Tommy Tremble, Bryce Pierre (ERFA)
OL: C Luke Fortner OT Rasheed Walker, OT Ikem Ekwonu, G Saahdiq Charles, G Chandler Zavala, G Ja’Tyre Carter (RFA), C Nick Samac (RFA), G Joshua Gray (ERFA), RT Stone Forsythe
EDGE: Patrick Jones, Maema Njongmeta (RFA), Jamil Muhammad (ERFA)
DL: Popo Aumavae (RFA), Jared Harrison-Hunte (ERFA)
LB: Isaiah Simmons, Jacoby Windmon (ERFA), Jared Bartlett (ERFA), Mapalo Mwansa (ERFA)
CB: Michael Jackson, Tyrek Funderburk (ERFA), Michael Reid (ERFA), Robert Rochell, Akayleb Evans
S: Nick Scott, Demani Richardson (RFA)
ST: J.J. Jansen

The Panthers had the second-worst pressure rate generated in 2025 (31st in PFF pass rush grade).

Pass rush, please. Because the Panthers’ secondary was low-key solid in 2025. Good group of starting CBs and safeties. They also retained many of their own CBs.

More DTs are always a must. The Panthers’ run defense still hasn’t been able to fully hold opposing RBs, even with DT Derrick Brown playing at a high level. A’Shawn Robinson will be a free agent at the end of the year (also rumored to be a cut candidate, according to the Athletic). He signed with the Buccaneers.

LB Christian Rozeboom also departed as a free agent (Tampa Bay). Linebacker Trevin Wallace was a third-rounder in last year’s class, but he went on IR with a shoulder injury.

Carolina made some splashy moves in FA to help their defense. Big contracts for LB Devin Lloyd and EDGE Jaelan Phillips.

Onto offense.

Rico Dowdle is a free agent. Dowdle said his decreased carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency. Claims he wants to go somewhere where he can get the bulk of the carries. Saints? Jets? Broncos? Steelers? Steelers.

Ergo… could 2026 be Jonathon Brooks‘ comeback szn?

We’ve already seen Chuba Hubbard lose his job once. Panthers HC Dave Canales already said he will have a chance to compete for the starting job. Both Canales and GM Dan Morgan have praised Brooks (s/o @Coachspeakindex).

Canales is also handing play-calling duties to OC Brad Idzik.

Brooks is only 22 years old. Adds a pass-catching threat/element that’s missing from this running back room.

As for QB, Bryce Young will be under center with the team picking up his 5th-year option.

Across the offensive line, they need to address center with Cade Mays/Austin Corbett, each hitting the open market. Center Luke Fortner signed a one-year deal.

Also, OT Ickey Ekwonu is recovering from a serious knee injury (ruptured patellar tendon) in the playoff loss to the Rams. Stone Forsythe was signed on a one-year deal. Likely just a backup option, because he was not good last season. Per Joe Person…Stone Forsythe allowed 11 sacks in 13 games last year, which ranked 89th out of 89 qualified offensive tackles, per PFF. Not great.

However, they were not done…as they also signed OT Rasheed Walker, who started for the Packers last season.

Dan Morgan says he has no timeline on when LT Ickey Ekwonu will be back from knee surgery. But he acknowledges this was a significant injury that takes a long time to heal. pic.twitter.com/5FHbp9OM66

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) February 24, 2026

I don’t think WR is a major need, assuming they get Jalen Coker signed as an exclusive rights free agent. But WR might be the BPA when they are on the clock.

Ja’Tavion Sanders hardly seems the answer at tight end for the Panthers two years into his career.

Also worth mentioning that Darrell Bevell is the new assistant HC in Carolina. Spent the last four years in Miami (QBs coach and pass game coordinator). If somebody would suggest taking a flier on any former Dolphins – it very well could be Carolina.

The Panthers did an excellent job filling in their holes during free agency, giving them a lot of flexibility in the draft. Last year, they drafted two of the youngest players in the class between Nic Scourton and Trevor Etienne.