Panthers heavily linked to drafting a top pass catcher at No. 19 as multiple standout prospects emerge as ideal fits
The Carolina Panthers are hunting to add another top weapon for QB Bryce Young in the 2026 NFL Draft and will have to wait out the board before striking on their top option with the 19th overall pick in the first-round.
The Carolina Panthers are starting to show their hand with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with more experts coming around to the idea that the team will look to draft another offensive weapon in the first-round.
It’s not a guarantee, with safety still lingering as a potential Day 1 option for the Panthers depending on how the board looks after the first 18 selections and how high the team’s grade is on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
As it relates to the top pass catchers, the Panthers have multiple ideal fits to consider, so let’s break down the top options.
Top pass catcher fits for the Carolina Panthers in the 2026 NFL Draft
1. Makai Lemon – WR – USC
If he’s on the board, Makai Lemon has to be the pick for the Panthers. Multiple teams inside the Top-15 are zeroing in on Lemon as a potential target including the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams. At this point, it’s looking unlikely that Lemon falls out of the first 15 selections.
This is the NFL Draft we’re talking about and we’ve seen far crazier things happen. Lemon is the perfect fit for the Panthers offense given his YAC ability and his ability to win from the slot. He’s the ideal complement to the WR room that features Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker.
2. Kenyon Sadiq – TE – Oregon
Everyone’s favorite mock draft selection with the 19th overall pick seems to be Kenyon Sadiq. He’s a matchup nightmare and a freak athlete at the tight end position, which is a lacking spot on the Panthers’ offense with Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders leading the room going into the draft.
Sadiq can bring a new dimension to the team’s passing attack while giving quarterback Bryce Young a reliable big-bodied target for the first time in his career. Just like Lemon, it’s not a guarantee Sadiq will be there with the Rams and Minnesota Vikings ahead of them.
3. Omar Cooper Jr. – WR – Indiana
This is where we start to get to actual expected options with the 19th overall pick. And the closer we get to the draft, the more I’m liking Omar Cooper Jr. as a potential top option for the Panthers over KC Conception.
Cooper is a complete receiver and has been a rising name for weeks. Landing inside the Top-20 would no longer be a surprise less than two weeks from draft day. Like Lemon, Cooper has great run-after-catch ability to his game but also brings more versatility to the table as an outside and slot option. If the Panthers miss out on Lemon, Cooper is a really attractive wide receiver to pivot to.
4. KC Concepcion – WR – Texas A&M
KC Concepcion was the ideal prospect I first had in mind when head coach Dave Canales mentioned WR as a target position in the first-round. His drops have constantly been the first thing people mention about his game and it really overshadows the obvious pros.
Concepcion brings his own advantages even it comes to his work after the catch and inside/outside versatility. The other exciting trait is his return ability on special teams that can make him a more rounded player. The added layer is that Concepcion is a Charlotte-native, which would help make him an immediate fan-favorite with the Panthers.
5. Denzel Boston – WR – Washington
I don’t foresee a Doomsday Scenario where all of the above four players are selected before the Panthers are on the clock and if the team indeed selects a pass catcher in the first-round, it’ll be one of those four players. For the sake of having a fifth “just-in-case” option, let’s throw in Denzel Boston.
Boston did have a 30 visit with the team, so he’s still a player worth bringing up. Unlike the other three WRs listed, Boston wins with his size at 6-3, 212 pounds. The Panthers already have two similar players in McMillan and Legette. If Boston is the pick, it would light a fire right under Legette going into his third season.
