We still have a few weeks until the 2026 NFL Draft, so we’re biding our time running through simulations and imagining what players the Carolina Panthers are going to come away with in the last weekend of April. The Panthers are usually pretty transparent with their draft philosophies, so it’s rare they blindside us with their early round selections. In that vein, head coach Dave Canales dropped a quote in a recent press conference that could be a subtle hint at what positions are and are not on the table
in the first round.
There’s a couple of ways to take this quote. One, it could mean that any player picked at that spot is expected to compete for starter’s reps regardless of position. While that could be true, it does somewhat ignore the dynamic of building a roster. There are spots that a rookie is either going to be unlikely to win a starting gig, or if they do, the Panthers will be drastically overpaying for depth.
More likely, this quote implies that when the Panthers are evaluating their options at the 19th pick, they’re going to favor positions that aren’t already strengths on the roster. They aren’t likely to draft Vernon Butler with Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short on the defensive interior or Shaq Thompson with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis at the height of their powers. You’d think that takes cornerback off the table with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson forming one of the more formidable outside corner duos in the NFL. Guard and wide receiver could also be difficult spots for a rookie to crack. And regardless of your thoughts on Bryce Young, quarterback is not on the table by any means.
That doesn’t rule out a whole lot of players, but it does shift the odds a little bit. Tight end is an obvious spot that’s begging for someone dynamic to take a starting spot, which makes someone like Kenyon Sadiq more interesting. You could see the same about the center spot, where the Panthers seemingly have Luke Fortner penciled in as the starter, but there aren’t any players that would be in play that high at that spot.
On defense, an edge rusher would be interesting. The Panthers spent big money on Jaelan Phillips, and he’s locked in as one starter. On the other side is Nic Scourton, who showed promise, but the question will be if the coaching staff felt it was enough promise to pass on competition for the other starting spot opposite Phillips. Safety, linebacker, and interior defensive line all of good players but have room for another difference maker to start, so all are seemingly on the table if the Panthers like one at the 19th pick.
The quote about not drafting for depth in the first round isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it does resonate with longtime Panthers fans that watched the team use high picks on redundant players, especially back in the Dave Gettleman era. Dan Morgan, Dave Canales, and the rest of the decision makers seem to be more in tune with how to use the draft to create a cohesive roster, and there’s solace to be taken in that.
