NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah reveals the one player than can shakeup the Panthers’ draft plans and snap a decade-long streak
The Carolina Panthers’ first-round plans can get a lot more exciting if this happens.
The Carolina Panthers have a lot of options to consider with the 19th overall pick in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft, granted everyone’s draft plans hinge on what every team does in free agency.
Regardless, multiple needs stand out for this team going into 2026. General manager Dan Morgan didn’t shy away from wanting to upgrade the pass rush, Ickey Ekwonu’s injury could force an addition at left tackle, and you could always add more weapons for quarterback Bryce Young.
But, when it comes to the draft, the Panthers could look to make an aggressive play. With the NFL Scouting Combine set to start next week, NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah hosted a Zoom call to answer any questions the media might have about particular teams or prospects.
Jeremiah was asked specifically about the Panthers’ first-round plans and revealed the one player the Panthers could go all in for if he starts to slide, and it’d break a decade-long streak for the franchise. And no, we’re not talking about the Panthers drafting a former Clemson player.
Sonny Styles should be the top player on the Panthers board and a trade up would need to happen
Another position Morgan specifically addressed upgrading ahead of the offseason was at linebacker with one starter set to depart in Christian Rozeboom. Morgan noted the team could look to add multiple linebackers using free agency and the draft to return the position to its former glory.
The top prospect that can accomplish that is easily Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, but it’s not likely that he falls all the way to pick No. 19. Which is why Jeremiah believes the Panthers could be aggressive.
“Well, I would say if somehow the league was dumb enough for Sonny Styles to fall there, Dan Morgan would lose his linebacker card if he didn’t run that pick up there, but I don’t think he’s going to make it there,” Jeremiah said. “You’re kind of looking at C.J. Allen, who would be a good value. That’s right about where I have him. Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas, maybe a little early. But yeah, Styles would be the one that I would say if he got in range, Dan might have to move up and get him if that were to be the case.”
Landing Styles in the first-round would be the ultimate homerun selection for the Panthers, even if it takes a trade up to make it happen. The last time the Panthers drafted a true inside linebacker in the first-round was Luke Kuechly in 2012 and we all know how that worked out with Kuechly now headed to Canton. Even if you consider Shaq Thompson as a true inside linebacker, he still was selected in the first-round over a decade ago.
Some experts even view Styles as the top overall prospect in the entire class and if the Panthers wanted him, they’d have to logically jump the Dallas Cowboys (12) and the Los Angeles Rams (13). You can read more about his draft profile here.
Daniel Jeremiah shares other Day 2 linebacker names that stand out for the Panthers
If that’s not possible, the other two options Jeremiah listed are legitimate targets as Day 1 linebackers. And if the Panthers would rather use their first-round pick on a top edge rusher to boost the pass rush, Jeremiah still likes the value later in the draft when it comes to finding a rookie linebacker.
“I think that’s something in free agency you could look at, or when you get into the middle rounds, I think there’s really good depth at linebacker,” Jeremiah added. “I talked about the third-round corner group, there’s a good group of linebackers in that area the draft as well. Kyle Louis from Pitt, Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech, [Bryce] Boettcher from Oregon, [Owen] Heinecke from Oklahoma, [Josiah] Trotter from Missouri, like all those guys are kind of all in that range to me of like late second, early to mid third-round. So if they wanted to go with a linebacker, I don’t know that they would necessarily need to do that with their first pick, except for the Styles exception.”
Time will tell what the Panthers do, but finding a way to come out of the opening night with a player like Styles can absolutely transform the defense and Morgan shouldn’t think twice about it if he falls.
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