C
Carolina Panthers
The jury is out on the Panthers. For now, C.
by allenwilson21 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 0 steals
· 10 reaches
There is conviction, and then there is this. The Panthers took Matthew Hibner a full 150 picks ahead of where the board had him, an overdraft steep enough that it colors the whole weekend. A mixed bag that lands at C.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. The trades cost them a sliver of value they did not need to spend. On the needs board they went 6 of 9, with wide receiver the one that mattered most.
If Jacob Rodriguez and a couple of the gambles land, hindsight will be kinder than this grade.
Pick-by-Pick
Jacob Rodriguez at Round 1, Pick 19 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Zakee Wheatley well ahead of where he belonged. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Treydan Stukes at the Round 3 slot is a conviction pick that outran the value. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They reached a country mile for DeMonte Capehart at slot 119, and the board is aghast. A minor itch, scratched.
A big swing on Pat Coogan at pick No. 158, well ahead of any board in the building. It fills a real need, too.
A real head-scratcher, Matthew Hibner in the 164th overall pick is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
They jumped the gun on Aamil Wagner, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Jeremiah Wright in pick 201 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Micah Morris in pick No. 236 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The board had cheaper options than Trebor Pena at the 255th overall pick, and it noticed. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.