2026 Carolina Panthers Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 7 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: July 27, 2026Overview
Carolina Panthers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 7 selections. Biggest needs: Outside Linebacker, Defensive Line, NT.
Complete Draft Class:Oklahoma
— Grade A
Ole Miss
— Grade B-
Cincinnati
— Grade B-
Texas Tech
— Grade C
Texas Tech
— Grade C-
Texas Tech
— Grade C-
View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #10 - Carolina Panthers: David Stone, Defensive Line,
Oklahoma
Rank: #10 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:Critical need filled. Carolina Panthers desperately needed Defensive Line help (need #2), and David Stone was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:David Stone brings immediate impact to Carolina Panthers. David Stone arrived in Norman as the consensus No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2024 class, a five-star Del City kid who anchored an IMG Academy defense that gave up 3.0 points per game as a junior. His Oklahoma debut was uneven: 94 defensive snaps acro... His best trait—explosive first step paired with heavy, active hands wins the line of scrimmage immediately—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Jalen Carter (penetrating 3-tech with violent hands and elite first step)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #42 - Carolina Panthers: Suntarine Perkins, Outside Linebacker,
Ole Miss
Rank: #65 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Critical need filled. Carolina Panthers desperately needed Outside Linebacker help (need #1), and Suntarine Perkins was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Suntarine Perkins brings immediate impact to Carolina Panthers. Suntarine Perkins is a 6'1", 220-pound linebacker from Raleigh, Mississippi, where he became the state's top high school prospect and a unanimous five-star recruit. A two-way force at Raleigh High, he led his team to its first state championship in 2... His best trait—elite coverage ability for a linebacker, grading in the 94th percentile in coverage—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Marte Mapu, Sacramento State (small-school tweener with safety instincts and coverage traits deployed as a hybrid linebacker)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #74 - Carolina Panthers: Evan Tengesdahl, Offensive Guard,
Cincinnati
Rank: #72 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Addresses key depth concern. While Offensive Guard wasn't the top priority, Evan Tengesdahl's talent at #72 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.
The Fit:Evan Tengesdahl is a Offensive Guard who can contribute immediately in Carolina Panthers's system. His college production and athleticism profile suggest he'll succeed at the next level. Evaluators see him as a day-one contributor.
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Pick #110: Elijah Griffin (Defensive Line, Georgia) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #114: Mateen Ibirogba (Defensive Line,Texas Tech
) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #191: Austin Romaine (Inside Linebacker,Texas Tech
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #230: Howard Sampson (Offensive Tackle,Texas Tech
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
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Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B | 6 positions addressed across 7 picks.---