Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; The 2026 NFL Draft logo at the Super Bowl LX Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is now just one week away! The Panthers have added some new faces, especially on defense and can truly go for BPA in the Draft. For the sake of this particular mock draft, we will be going through a few different seven round draft scenarios and asking you, the readers, to vote on your favorite!

Scenario 1: “Quick Sim” (No Trades)

1.19 – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

While the Panthers have not had a top 30 visit with Faulk, they did reportedly meet with him at the combine. Faulk would pair with Scourton, Umanmielen, and Phillips to create a very deep and diverse pass rushing group.

2.51 – AJ Haulcy, S, LSU

The Panthers did have Haulcy in for an official Top 30 visit. Haulcy is a solid overall safety who excels at playing the ball in the air and forcing turnovers.

3.83 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers was somehow still available this late in the third, so I couldn’t resist sprinting to the podium.

4.119 Jager Burton, C, Kentucky

Burton is an athletic interior lineman who could immediately battle for the starting center spot or be a top interior backup.

5.158 Devon Marshall, CB, NC State

Marshall is not the ideal height for an outside corner at just 5’11”, but he could push Chau Smith-Wade for nickelback snaps.

5.159 Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

Here the Panthers take a flyer on a size/speed demon at receiver (6’5”, 216 lbs, 4.31 40 yard dash, 42” vertical, 11’1” broad jump).

6.200 Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Allar could be the future backup QB for the Panthers if they decide to eventually move on from Pickett.

Scenario 2: “Our Guys” (Trade Up When Necessary)

1.11 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

I used 1.19, 3.83, and next year’s third to move up to 11 and catch the falling Downs. Downs is undoubtedly the top safety in the draft and has been dominant since he was a freshman at Alabama.

2.51 Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas

After securing the future of the defensive backfield, the Panthers add a young explosive linebacker to learn from Devin Lloyd

3.91 Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M

After trading a third rounder earlier, the Panthers next pick wasn’t until pick 119. I used 119, 159, and Minnesota’s fourth rounder next year to move up to 91 and take an intriguing tackle prospect to help bolster the line. I also netted Buffalo’s sixth rounder next year as a cherry on top.

5.158 Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington

After a very long wait, the Panthers were back on the clock and took a long, athletic corner.

5.167 Jake Slaughter, C, Florida

Instead of waiting to see who would be available at pick 200, I sent 200 and the newly acquired sixth rounder from Buffalo to the Texans for 167 and New England’s seventh rounder next year, using 167 to add the potential center of the future.

Scenario 3: “Diet Trade Down Island^TM” (Not Taking Every Offer)

1.19 TRADED to Chicago Bears for 1.25 and 2.60

The Bears come in with a huge offer to move up just six spots, and no other team was offering a first rounder. They ended up taking Spencer Fano (OT, Utah) with that pick.

1.25 TRADED to Baltimore Ravens for 2.45, 3.80, 2027 BAL 2nd, 2027 BAL 4th

Another one-sided offer in favor of the Panthers convinced me to trade out of the first round. The Ravens took Peter Woods (DL, Clemson) with the 25th pick.

2.45 AJ Haulcy, S, LSU

The Patriots offered 63 and a second rounder next year for 45 and 200, but I decided that wasn’t enough to bet on talent for next year. Haulcy is a zone safety that would fit in well with Evero’s scheme and has been a confirmed Top 30 visit for the Panthers.

2.51 (and 5.200) TRADED to Houston Texans for 2.59 and 3.106

The Texans came in and allowed me to move up almost 100 spots later in exchange for dropping eight spots now. They took Sam Hecht (C, Kentucky).

2.59 Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Texans tried to trade up again, but emphasized future draft capital that left me wanting. Banks is the most athletically gifted tackle in the draft and an absolute game wrecker when healthy.

2.60 Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

Denver wanted multiple current picks for some future capital, so I decided to keep the pick. Delp is a big, athletic tight end who the Panthers have already had in for a Top 30 visit.

3.80 Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

No tantalizing offers for this pick, so the Panthers take Bryce Lance. Lance is the type of tall, fast receiver that would add explosiveness to this offense.

3.83 Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

The Packers wanted me to drop forty picks for a third rounder next year, but I decided to take Golday. He has the size and athleticism to play linebacker in the NFL, he just needs reps and coaching.

4.106 (and 2027 CAR 7th) TRADED to Green Bay Packers for 4.120 and 5.153

The Packers again hopped on the phone, this time making an offer that worked a lot better for the Panthers. The Packers took Dominique Orange (DT, Iowa State)

4.119 Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State

No trade offers came in, so the Panthers grab a positionally versatile lineman who can be a decent left tackle in short spurts when needed.

4.120 Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU

The phones still weren’t ringing, so the Panthers add another big, athletic linebacker who can immediately contribute on special teams.

5.153 Devin Moore, CB, Florida

Still no interest in trading with the Panthers. Instead, the team adds a huge (6’3”, 200 lbs) corner in the mold of the Legion of Boom.

5.158 Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma

Seriously, did we forget to pay the phone bill? Oh well, the Panthers take the speedy and shifty Burks to compete with Jimmy Horn Jr for that gimmick type of player you find ways to get the ball.

5.159 Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Iowa

I’m starting to think I got blacklisted by the rest of the league, and maybe that’s why I did not receive any more offers. Because of that, this was the last pick of the draft for the Panthers, who took a productive pass rusher who could be a solid rotational piece.

So what do you think, Panthers fans? Which mock draft was your favorite out of these three: Quick Sim, Our Guys, or Diet Trade Down Island? Sound off in the comments!

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