Data Suggests Panthers Could Throw Curveball in First Round of NFL Draft

Data shows shocking results of which position the Panthers have the best chance of picking.

Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Carolina Panthers helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the pregame at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers’ choice with the 19th pick in the NFL Draft is one that is largely a mystery. The Panthers filled a ton of holes in free agency, and some feel more confident in where the Panthers will go than others. 

It’s clearly not certain where the Panthers will go with this 19th pick, though, there’s such a little idea of what position Carolina wants to target that every new mock draft that drops has the Panthers choosing different positions. 

While the mocks have been all over the place, there’s another way to see where the Panthers could potentially go with this 19th pick, and the results will surprise most. 

Data Shows Panthers Drafting a WR in Round 1 (Again)

NFL Commissoner Rodger Goodell, left, with Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan selected by the Carolina Panthers as the number eight pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Football Insights posted a graph on X on March 31st, that shows the market-implied likelihood for each team and the positions they could target. For the Panthers, the highest probability was wide receiver, not tight end, the offensive line, or safety. 

Market implied probabilities of the first position that teams could draft in April pic.twitter.com/oIUUF0USrn

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 31, 2026

This would be the third year in a row that Carolina targets a wide receiver in the first round, and in the last two years, the Panthers are 1-1 with their picks. The big win was last year's WR, offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan, and the miss so far has been Xavier Legette. 

Panthers GM Dan Morgan has talked about how drafting a receiver again isn’t out of the question and that the Panthers won’t pass up on good players, even if it is another receiver. 

Dan Morgan: We’re not going to pass up on good players and if the best player on our board is a wideout…then so be it. pic.twitter.com/tSaKP9YRZT

— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) February 24, 2026

Receivers the Panthers Would Target

Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion (WO16) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Luckily for the Panthers, this receiver class is loaded with talent, and there should be multiple really talented receivers still on the board at 19 if Carolina leans towards that option. 

KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Concepcion is projected to be picked anywhere from mid-first round to mid-second round. As recently as mid-March, Concepcion was mocked to Carolina by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. Concepcion is coming off a great season with Texas A&M, recording 61 catches for over 900 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Concepcion has thrived at gaining yards after a catch, and has experienced being used in many ways, both as a receiver and rusher.

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Another receiver who’s recently been linked with the Panthers, Tyson is pretty clearly the best route runner in this class, and can create separation down the field well cause of how well he gets off his breaks. In Tyson’s last two seasons in college, he totaled 19 touchdowns and had a season with over 1100 yards in 2024.