Data Suggests Panthers Could Throw Curveball in First Round of NFL Draft

Football Insights posted a graph on X on March 31st, that shows the market-implied likelihood for each team and the positions they could target. For the Panthers, the highest probability was wide receiver, not tight end, the offensive line, or safety. 

This would be the third year in a row that Carolina targets a wide receiver in the first round, and in the last two years, the Panthers are 1-1 with their picks. The big win was last year's WR, offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan, and the miss so far has been Xavier Legette. 

Panthers GM Dan Morgan has talked about how drafting a receiver again isn’t out of the question and that the Panthers won’t pass up on good players, even if it is another receiver. 

Receivers the Panthers Would Target

Luckily for the Panthers, this receiver class is loaded with talent, and there should be multiple really talented receivers still on the board at 19 if Carolina leans towards that option. 

KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Concepcion is projected to be picked anywhere from mid-first round to mid-second round. As recently as mid-March, Concepcion was mocked to Carolina by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. Concepcion is coming off a great season with Texas A&M, recording 61 catches for over 900 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Concepcion has thrived at gaining yards after a catch, and has experienced being used in many ways, both as a receiver and rusher.

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Another receiver who’s recently been linked with the Panthers, Tyson is pretty clearly the best route runner in this class, and can create separation down the field well cause of how well he gets off his breaks. In Tyson’s last two seasons in college, he totaled 19 touchdowns and had a season with over 1100 yards in 2024.