Strange Draft Forecast for Panthers (Pundits are clueless about our team)

[SCO96]

We've had a couple of threads on our forum about what to expect for the future of our team (ie: draft, FA, trades) in 2026. I decided to take a look at some 2026 draft predictions for the 1st round. I was baffled by what I found.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/wilsons-2026-nfl-mock-draft-latest/ (They have us taking an interior offensive lineman)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-what-will-dolphins-do-with-no-11-pick/ar-AA1TBB6l  (same thing, different guy)

https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-drafts/2026/consensus-mock-draft-2026?date=all-time (same thing, different guy)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2026/01/04/nfl-mock-draft-2026-first-round-order-projection/88006263007/   (TE)

https://fansided.com/nfl/nfl-mock-draft-2026-full-first-round-projection-trades (Edge)

 

Only one site had us taking a player to fill our biggest defensive weakness, edge rusher. And no one mentioned ILB.

We gave out massive contract in 2024 to fill the guard spots. I could see "maybe" taking an elite center , but not a guard.

TE's don't appear to factor in much in a Canales offense.

It seems like these guys don't know our team needs at all.

 

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, SCO96 said:

We've had a couple of threads on our forum about what to expect for the future of our team (ie: draft, FA, trades) in 2026. I decided to take a look at some 2026 draft predictions for the 1st round. I was baffled by what I found.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/wilsons-2026-nfl-mock-draft-latest/ (They have us taking an interior offensive lineman)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-what-will-dolphins-do-with-no-11-pick/ar-AA1TBB6l  (same thing, different guy)

https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-drafts/2026/consensus-mock-draft-2026?date=all-time (same thing, different guy)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2026/01/04/nfl-mock-draft-2026-first-round-order-projection/88006263007/   (TE)

https://fansided.com/nfl/nfl-mock-draft-2026-full-first-round-projection-trades (Edge)

 

Only one site had us taking a player to fill our biggest defensive weakness, edge rusher. And no one mentioned ILB.

We gave out massive contract in 2024 to fill the guard spots. I could see "maybe" taking an elite center , but not a guard.

TE's don't appear to factor in much in a Canales offense.

It seems like these guys don't know our team needs at all.

 

First, these mock drafts are going to be very bad and very general now.

Second, drafting solely based on need is a very quick way to have a very bad draft. Positionsl value and player value will factor.

This is a worry March-April.

[uncfan888]

We didn't need Luke when we drafted him but that worked out

[Jackson113.2]

We're drafting at 32 sooo...

[45catfan]

17 minutes ago, Jackson113.2 said:

We're drafting at 32 sooo...

Sarcasm or completely delusional?  

[SCO96]

20 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

First, these mock drafts are going to be very bad and very general now.

Second, drafting solely based on need is a very quick way to have a very bad draft. Positionsl value and player value will factor.

This is a worry March-April.

While I agree, that reaching can come back to bit you if you pick the wrong guy at the wrong time (especially in the early rounds), but I think most of Panther fans on this forum would throw a shoe at the screen if we picked a GUARD in the 1st round. . 

[45catfan]

They reason they have no clue is the two positions we need the most (EDGE & LB) are going to be gone.  Unless a name heats up from the top of the 2nd round/late first, we would be reaching or taking BPA.

[45catfan]

Howell is a bit high right now. but if he has a good showing prior to the draft, he could be in range.  Sadiq is a great athlete who plays TE.  No thanks.  I don't want a knock off Kyle Pitts.  OL, DL or CB are the likely choices.  They are needs, but not top needs.  I would like KC Concepcion.  He can play anywhere, but as a slot guy with Tet and Coker on the outside, man that would be a stacked WR room!  Trade XL.

[kungfoodude]

12 minutes ago, SCO96 said:

While I agree, that reaching can come back to bit you if you pick the wrong guy at the wrong time (especially in the early rounds), but I think most of Panther fans on this forum would throw a shoe at the screen if we picked a GUARD in the 1st round. . 

Yeah, that's likely someone who is unfamiliar with team needs and is basically doing a BPA draft.

5 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Howell is a bit high right now. but if he has a good showing prior to the draft, he could be in range.  Sadiq is a great athlete who plays TE.  No thanks.  I don't want a knock off Kyle Pitts.  OL, DL or CB are the likely choices.  They are needs, but not top needs.  I would like KC Concepcion.  He can play anywhere, but as a slot guy with Tet and Coker on the outside, man that would be a stacked WR room!  Trade XL.

KC is going to depend on his speed/quickness testing at the combine. That might be pretty early for him.

I like the idea of that kind of player because he also returns kicks/punts. I mentioned that in another thread today, wanting to get a Dike-like player that can play WR and be an elite KR/PR. It's been forever that we even tried to do that.

[electro's horse]

35 minutes ago, Jackson113.2 said:

We're drafting at 32 sooo...

Who’s the next project WR from a school best known for softball we’re trading back into the first for 

Edited January 5 by electro's horse

[45catfan]

14 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Yeah, that's likely someone who is unfamiliar with team needs and is basically doing a BPA draft.

KC is going to depend on his speed/quickness testing at the combine. That might be pretty early for him.

I like the idea of that kind of player because he also returns kicks/punts. I mentioned that in another thread today, wanting to get a Dike-like player that can play WR and be an elite KR/PR. It's been forever that we even tried to do that.

You don't have to be a speed demon to play the slot, but you do have to be quick.  It requires situational awareness (football IQ), twitchiness, great get-off, dynamic feet in tight spaces and obviously great hands.  I've seen mocks with him sneaking in the top 15.   As of now, he's mostly mocked in late round 1, with the occasional one higher or lower than that range.  WRs stock, especially, can take off with a good pre-draft showing.  For his stock to rise, say 10 spots, is totally not only achievable, but very likely.

[Swaggasaurus]

Draft media people are some of the dumbest motherfugers who ever lived. Mel Kiper is their founding father. 
 

 

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, 45catfan said:

You don't have to be a speed demon to play the slot, but you do have to be quick.  It requires situational awareness (football IQ), twitchiness, great get-off, dynamic feet in tight spaces and obviously great hands.  I've seen mocks with him sneaking in the top 15.   As of now, he's mostly mocked in late round 1, with the occasional one higher or lower than that range.  WRs stock, especially, can take off with a good pre-draft showing.  For his stock to rise, say 10 spots, is totally not only achievable, but very likely.

Watching him play, I have always suspected that he might not be as athletic as his production indicates. For a player like him, I do think he will have to test out well athletically for him to be a top 50 draft pick. 

I like him but I want to see the results to see if my eyes are deceiving me.