Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan met with the media on Tuesday ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and detailed how the team is positioned in a favorable spot when it comes to potential options with the 19th overall pick.

“If anything, I think it opens us up to a lot of possibilities at pick 19,” Morgan explained. “I think all positions are on the table. And like I said before, you never know who’s gonna fall down to us. So I think we’re definitely in the best-player-available mindset.”

That mindset includes the possibility of drafting another first-round pass catcher to help elevate the offense around quarterback Bryce Young. Over the last few days, it seemed like that would be the direction the Panthers go on opening night next Thursday.

However, two top NFL Draft experts are aligned on another position based on their latest mock drafts released on Wednesday.

Dane Brugler and Mel Kiper each had the Panthers selecting a safety with the 19th overall pick

Dane Brugler of The Athletic and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, two of the top NFL draft experts, each released their latest mock draft and each had the Panthers selecting a safety with the 19th overall pick. It’s an interesting development after all the WR/TE talk the last few days and the fact they both shared that same mindset eight days away from the draft.

Brugler had Carolina taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman and passing on two wide receivers the Panthers met with in KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr., who both came off the board immediately after the 19th pick.

“As Carolina continues to build its defense, Thieneman has the versatility that will speak to general manager Dan Morgan and the Panthers coaches. He would upgrade both the coverage and run defense from day one,” Brugler wrote.

Kiper took a different approach and had the Panthers selecting Toldeo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, one pick after he had Thieneman coming off the board. However, it’s worth noting that Kiper had Kenyon Sadiq and Cooper selected before the Panthers’ pick.

“Carolina might decide to use this pick to help quarterback Bryce Young on offense. The 2023 No. 1 draft pick took a step forward last season, but the offense was still 25th in ESPN’s Football Power Index. Even so, getting an impact safety to pair with Tre’von Moehrig behind the Panthers’ really solid cornerback duo could be the team’s next savvy move on defense after signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. And drafting McNeil-Warren would actually help Young — by getting him the ball more often. McNeil-Warren had five interceptions and an incredible 10 forced fumbles over four seasons in college,” Kiper wrote.

My Takeaways

The Panthers’ decision with the 19th overall pick is going to come down to safety or pass catcher in my mind. How the staff feels about the depth at one position over the other will play a big role in this as well.

I’m still in the belief that the Panthers draft a pass catcher and actually go the WR route for the third year in a row with their first-round pick. I believe there’s good value on Day 2 at the safety position and Morgan noted he likes the depth at TE.

However, if a run on receivers happens early, the smart pivot would be taking one of those two safeties to continue overhauling the defense and then targeting pass catchers on Day 2.