The draft plans for the Carolina Panthers are starting to come together with two weeks to go until the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft officially kicks off.

With the 19th overall pick in the first-round, the Panthers are widely expected to take an offensive weapon to continue adding play-makers around quarterback Bryce Young. That could either be via a top wide receiver such as KC Conception and Omar Cooper Jr. or via the top tight end in the class in Kenyon Sadiq.

“Adding another playmaker for Young is viewed as essential when speaking to sources close to the Panthers. It is certainly possible that they draft a receiver in Round 1 for a third consecutive year. Another position to watch is tight end.”

If the Panthers indeed go that route in the first-round, Carolina would be wise to attack the defensive side of the ball on Day 2. The perfect target with the 51st overall pick would be Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes, who’s fittingly in Carolina for his 30 visit on Thursday.

Carolina Panthers meeting with Arizona DB Treydan Stukes, the perfect second-round target

Stukes has been a popular prospect on the pre-draft 30 visit circuit and it’s not a surprise to see the Panthers show some serious interest in the versatile defensive back.

Arizona DB Treydan Stukes is having his 30 visit with the #Panthers today, per league source.

Stukes (6-1, 190) ran 4.33 40 in Indy. He also had a 38” vert and a 10’10” broad jump, too.

He has DB versatility and testing that compares to Minkah Fitzpatrick. He has 10 visits set.

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) April 9, 2026

The Panthers were rumored to be the in the market for a starting-caliber nickel player in free agency to replace Chau Smith-Wade but never pulled the trigger on the open market. Carolina is also a rumored team to watch for a first-round safety.

Stukes at pick No. 51 in the second-round can kill both birds with one stone. He projects as a starting nickel defender but has the ability to line up at safety as well. Drafting him would give the Panthers some fun pieces to deploy in the secondary alongside Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Tre’von Moehrig, and Nick Scott.

“When you look at the tape and the testing numbers of Stukes, it’s hard to find a reason why he wouldn’t be a first-rounder. He has very few flaws on film. Elite ball skills, highly instinctual, aggressive, and versatile, Stukes can be deployed in multiple alignments and excel in all of them. His age and injury history are understandable detractors, but this is a player who went from walk-on to highly valued draft prospect. He’s not just a good story; he’s a good player.” – via A to Z Sports’ Rob Gregson

Landing a player like Stukes in the second-round after taking a top wide receiver / tight end in the first-round would be a stellar start to the draft for the Panthers and continue an already fantastic offseason by general manager Dan Morgan.