Where the Carolina Panthers Should Spend, and Where They Should Draft

Edge Rusher 

This class is loaded with EDGE talent; most mock drafts through February 15th have the Panthers selecting one of the many talented edge rushers in the class. The realistic prospects vary; there’s Keldric Faulk out of Auburn, TJ Parker out of Clemson, Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M, and even more talent. 

The Panthers desperately need to find help for Nic Scourton and the rest of the pass rush, and drafting one, if not two, edge rushers early in this draft could immediately fill a dire need and keep it cost-efficient for now. 

Even if Carolina doesn’t draft an EDGE in the first round, they could find a talented one in the second round as well

Tight End

This applies in only one circumstance, but it is important enough to warrant mention in the NFL Draft needs. The Panthers are more than likely going to have the best tight end on the board still at No. 19 overall, and that’s Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. 

Sadiq is the only first-round talent at tight end this year, and for good reason; he’s a matchup nightmare and is a great route runner for his size, also very good in run blocking.

He’d be an excellent addition to the offense and to give Bryce Young that security blanket type of target that’s reliable in third-down situations. 

Positions the Panthers should Target in Free Agency

Offensive line 

Part of free agency is re-signing players to the roster, and for the Panthers, starting center Cade Mays should be near the top of their priority list. 

Mays was solid for the Panthers in 2025, and with that, the center and QB relationship is one of the most important in Football, so keeping the continuity on the line and for Bryce Young can only help moving forward. 

If Mays were to depart, the ideal replacement would be three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Lindebaum from Baltimore. He'd come with a higher price tag, but he's only allowed two sacks in the last three seasons, so it would be money well spent.

The Panthers need additional depth not only at center but also at left tackle, especially with Ikem Ekwonu potentially missing the entire 2026 season. Securing affordable depth options could be impactful.

Linebacker 

Linebacker is another major need for the Panthers. Carolina's linebacker core was terrible in coverage against tight ends and in short pass situations last year, and finding a solid coverage linebacker could significantly boost the defense overall.

If Carolina were to go all in on one position in free agency, this would be the one, with some major talent available. Devin Lloyd and Leo Chenal would both be perfect fits for Carolina. Both have shown they can handle their own, and then some, when it comes to pass coverage, especially Lloyd.

Carolina can find some of the essential needs through both the draft and free agency, but if they balance their signings between the two, their defense could become complete next season and be a threat as one of the best in the NFL.