CHARLOTTE — The 2026 NFL Draft is here and the future of the Carolina Panthers will be shaped this weekend.

As with each draft cycle, there is much speculation to consider ahead of the first pick, real-time analysis and breaking news to keep up on, and then of course, the fast-paced action of the draft itself.

The Panthers are picking at No. 19 overall this year, the first of seven current picks. General manager Dan Morgan, meeting with local media last week, said the moves made in free agency which filled a lot of positions of need, gives the Panthers freedom to draft the best available player not only in the first round, but all subsequent rounds as well.

Morgan added 10 new faces in free agency this offseason, a group headlined by outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and middle linebacker Devin Lloyd, two playmakers expected to anchor the Panthers' front-seven.

The GM also (presumably) joked last week that there is no rule you can't draft a wide receiver in the first round three years in a row. He previously drafted Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan in the first round in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

That means the options are virtually endless for Carolina this weekend, and we will be here with you through every pre-draft prediction, every pick, and every bit of reaction afterwards. Keep this tracker bookmarked for position previews, mock drafts, live draft updates, draft pick press conferences, and more.

Panthers 2026 draft 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

Draft schedule

• Thursday, April 22: Round 1 (8 p.m.)
• Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3 (7 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 (Noon)

*All times are Eastern

Panthers Hall of Honor quarterback and Panthers Radio Network analyst Jake Delhomme will be in Pittsburgh to announce a Day 2 pick for the Panthers.

And don't forget to come out to Bank of America Stadium on Friday morning to welcome our first round pick to Charlotte.

Panthers pick OT Monroe Freeling with the No. 19 pick

The Panthers continued to strengthen the offensive line, adding a long-term contributor to an already-strong group.

• Panthers select Georgia OT Monroe Freeling with Pick 19
• For Monroe Freeling, there's a chance to "compete"
• 5 Things to Know about Monroe Freeling
• Monroe Freeling is staying home to give his all for the Carolinas

He ran a 4.93-second 40 with a 33.5-inch vertical at the combine, and has the long arms (34 3/4 inches) teams covet in their tackles.

A native of Charleston, S.C., he started the last two seasons at left tackle for the Bulldogs.

He'll be welcomed on Friday around noon at Bank of America Stadium. Stay tuned for more details.

Panthers pick DT Lee Hunter at No. 49 overall

The Panthers traded up two spots with the Minnesota Vikings to draft defensive tackle Lee Hunter, nose tackle out of Texas Tech.

Hunter adds a huge force in the middle of the Panthers defensive line, literally. He clocks in at 6-3, 318 pounds and is nicknamed "The Fridge."

• Panthers trade up to select Lee Hunter
• 5 things to know about Lee Hunter

Weekend Warriors

Panthers reporter Anish Shroff was joined by NFL Draft expert Trevor Sikkema and ESPN's Tom Luginbill ahead of the draft to break down each position unit and provide mock drafts of their own.

In Episode 1, the guys recap the Panthers offseason so far, outline how the Panthers are setup to take the best player available, discuss the difference between measurables and college film, and so much more!

In Episode 2, the guys breakdown the offensive skill position prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. They talk through the options at wide receiver, tight end, and running back that could be available to the Panthers early in the draft.

In episode 3, the guys break down some of the big guys on both sides of the line in the upcoming NFL Draft.

In episode 4, the guys breakdown the linebacker and defensive back prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. They talk through the options at off-ball linebacker, cornerback, safety, and edge rusher that could be available to the Panthers early in the draft.

And finally, to put a cap on it all, Trevor Sikkema looks at which players were mocked the most to the Panthers this draft season, offering insight into how they might fit in Carolina.

Podcast central

The Panthers podcast network has more offerings ahead of the draft as well.

On the April 8 episode of JJ and Luke, Panthers Hall of Fame inductee Luke Kuechly shared his draft outlook for Carolina. Watch below or find on all podcast providers.

Catch up with the April 14 episode of the Happy Half Hour when Darin Gantt and Kassidy Hill begin to look at the draft class and how the Panthers have set themselves up after free agency.

The very special April 20 episode of JJ and Luke features a sit-down interview with general manager Dan Morgan. The GM recaps some key moments from his first two drafts, including the trade into the first-round in 2024. He also shares details of what draft week looks like for him as a GM, how trades come about, and the extent of his current mock drafts.

The episode also celebrates a very special birthday.

The Thursday morning Happy Half Hour special, Darin and Kassidy put on their GM hats and offer some possibilities as to who they would draft at No. 19 overall, plus share some favorite draft day stories.

Mock Draft central

There is nothing that keeps everyone guessing more this time of year than a mock draft. We've put together seven (and counting) that pull together the lists of who national pundits predict the Panthers will draft in the first round. Catch up with them all below.

• Mock draft 8.0 (from April 22)
• Mock draft 7.0 (from April 16)
• Mock draft 6.0 (from April 9)
• Mock draft 5.0 (from April 2)
• Mock draft 4.0 (from March 18)
• Mock draft 3.0 (from March 3)
• Mock draft 2.0 (from February 19)
• Mock draft 1.0 (from January 27)

And take a look back at Dan Morgan's takeaways from the NFL combine that took place at the end of February.

Position Previews

We've been looking at some of the possibilities at each position leading up to the draft. Here's a quick look at each position, from the Panthers perspective.

Defensive line

• Position preview
• Peter Woods is "a game disruptor" who knows he can change a defense in the NFL

Inside linebacker

• Position preview
• Josiah Trotter will continue the "family business" in the NFL, but with his own twist

Outside linebacker

• Position preview
• Arvell Reese can do many things, but he's ready to focus on one: rush the passer

Safety

• Position preview
• Bud Clark is a fighter, ready to put everything he has into playing safety at the next level

Corner

• Position preview
• Chandler Rivers packs big play ability in a small frame

Wide receiver

• Position preview
• Jordyn Tyson getting one percent better each and every day

Tight end

• Position preview
• Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq's a rare athlete, bringing plenty of options

Running backs

• Position preview
• Running back Rahsul Faison ready to bring ample experience to his NFL dream

Offensive line

• Position preview
• Spencer Fano happy to play anywhere along the line as he continues family legacy

Quarterback

• Position preview
• Ty Simpson started one year, but believes being at Alabama prepared him for the NFL

Odds and Ends

• This will be the first time in the history of the Panthers franchise that Carolina will pick at No. 19 overall. You can check out the full history of every Panthers draft pick ever here.
• Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis have not been shy about the fact they consider age when drafting players. And as the transfer portal and COVID years have effected when players are coming into the draft class, age has become a factor.
• Three schools lead the Panthers draft history with seven picks each. Can you name them all?
• Panthers' Young, Brown, and McMillan offer advice to prospects ahead of NFL draft