B-
Carolina Panthers
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Panthers a B-.
by gageexline ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 0 steals
· 5 reaches
Call it a hunch or call it a gamble, but the Panthers spent Round 6, Pick 19 on Eric O'Neill, a name most had 68 spots down the list. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.
The offensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 9 of the wish list covered.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 19 they get a press-man option on the boundary. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A premium they did not need to pay, Zachariah Branch a notch or two before his time. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They talked themselves into Caden Curry at pick No. 83, and the board did not agree. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A reach on Harold Perkins Jr. in the 119th pick; the board had better options right there. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A wild overpay on Taylen Green in the 158th overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They did well to land Tim Keenan III in Round 5, Pick 19, just ahead of his grade. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Eric O'Neill in slot 200, miles early. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.