Panthers Kickstart Defense-First Mock Draft With Risky Selection

Wilson has the Panthers investing in their defense early in the draft, but it’s not the position most would consider a need for 2026. The Panthers select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 19th pick overall in Wilson’s mock. Cornerback isn’t the most pressing of needs for Carolina right now, but the thought process behind this pick is for down the line, not 2026. 

Wilson explains why McCoy would get drafted by Carolina, simply because Panthers corner Mike Jackson is entering the final year of his contract. McCoy, for his career, has six interceptions and 42 solo tackles. McCoy has really good ball skills. He’s a former high school receiver, so he has a knack for tracking the ball down. 

The Risk of Drafting McCoy

Jermod McCoy has really good tape; his skill isn’t something to question, but his health is. McCoy didn’t play a single snap in 2025 due to a torn ACL injury he suffered in 2024.

McCoy’s pro day is today in Knoxville, as the University of Tennessee will host scouts from all over the league to evaluate some prospects from the Vols. If McCoy runs well and does well in the drills, then that could be a sigh of relief for some teams. 

Why the Panthers Shouldn’t Draft McCoy

Obviously, injury concerns are there, but the main reason the Panthers shouldn’t draft McCoy is that there are needs that are more dire. Some positions that should be addressed first are safety, tight end, and more offensive tackle help. Even in this mock draft, Wilson has the Panthers selecting McCoy while players like Spencer Fano (RT, Utah), Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon), and Dillion Thieneman (S, Oregon) are on the board. 

If the Panthers were to actually pass up on those three for McCoy, it would be one of the worst decisions Dan Morgan and Dave Canales could make, and so far, there haven’t been too many bad decisions.