After aggressively addressing key defensive needs with the additions of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, the Carolina Panthers enter the next phase of the offseason with far more flexibility than expected.
If the latest projection from ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is any indication, that flexibility could already be pointing toward a clear first-round plan.
In his latest 2026 mock draft, Kiper has the Panthers selecting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the No. 19 overall pick, a move that says a lot more about the team’s direction than it might seem at first glance.