CHARLOTTE—The 2026 NFL draft is now just weeks away. Teams are updating their big board every day, welcoming in prospects for visits, and evaluating their current rosters every minute of every day. Only a select few in each building know what a club might do when the first round kicks off on April 23 in Pittsburgh. But between now and then, we will take a look at every position on the field and how some might even impact the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers currently have seven picks:

Rd. 1, No. 19 overall

Rd. 2, No. 51 overall

Rd. 3, No. 83 overall

Rd. 4, No. 119 overall

Rd. 5, No. 158 overall (from Minnesota)

Rd. 5, No. 159 overall

Rd. 6, No. 200 overall

Next up in our preview series is cornerback.

Position previews are an aggregation of the opinions and analyses of various draft websites and mock drafts. These are not rankings of a position, but rather a preview of names projected across all three days of the draft. Analysis by the Panthers editorial staff does not reflect the Panthers football staff and front office.

The Panthers are seemingly well-stocked at the position — for now. But the key is thinking several years out, and this is where you could see some action on draft weekend.

Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have been one of the most productive duos in the league the last two years. They had nine interceptions between them in the regular season, and Jackson had another one in the playoff game against the Rams. Jackson gets most of the traffic, but his passer rating allowed was the fifth-lowest in the league last year. He's also 29 and entering the final year of his contract, so it's reasonable to consider the future.

The Panthers also have nickel Chau Smith-Wade and former undrafted rookie Corey Thornton on the roster (among others), and Thornton impressed last year and was earning a bigger role before he was injured. It's fair to think they'll want to add to the position, particularly if the player has the flexibility to play inside, while Horn and Jackson continue to patrol the perimeter.

Mansoor Delane — LSU

He doesn't get targeted a lot (which is a sign of respect for his coverage). Has the size to play big receivers and the speed (4.38) to cut and run with the fast ones. His press ability stood out, and after playing through injury, he's shown to be one of the top prospects in this year's draft.

Jermod McCoy — Tennessee

He missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but came back to run a 4.37 40 at his pro day workout, easing some of the physical concerns. He had a standout 2024 season, and brings long-term potential.

Avieon Terrell — Clemson

The brother of Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell, he made a name for himself in college. What he lacks in size (5-11, 186), he makes up for in tenacity and willingness to play a physical style. That could position him to get early time as a nickel, and he's shown the ability to do that for the Tigers.

Colton Hood — Tennessee

He stood out last year for the Vols in McCoy's injury absence, breaking up eight passes in addition to a pick-six, showing his ability to make plays on the ball.

Brandon Cisse — South Carolina

Started his career at NC State, but found a role model and a guide in Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn. Blossomed last year at South Carolina, showing explosive athleticism. He might be a bit of a project at first, but he has the kind of ability to make the development worthwhile.