B-
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers let Jones fall and pounced. Final grade: B-.
by Carolina Dave ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 6 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
The Panthers did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Logan Jones fell into slot 119.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. The roster is better shaped than it was, with wide receiver chief among the fixes. The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.
Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get an anchor for the offensive line. A real need, handled.
Jacob Rodriguez in the 51st pick is fair value, right on his grade. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Steal is underselling it; Zachariah Branch at pick No. 83 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Logan Jones at slot 119 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A need, and now a little less of one.
Value with a capital V on Charles Demmings in No. 158, a genuine coup. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Fair-plus on Zxavian Harris, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A minor need, but a need all the same.