2026 NFL mock draft has the Carolina Panthers wasting their first pick

Jeremiyah Love would be a terrible misfire from the Panthers.

Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers will almost certainly be picking around the middle of the first-round. If they make the playoffs, they're probably going to pick 19th. If they lose out, they might rise to somewhere in the 11-13 range.

Essentially, they're pretty locked in on a limited range of prospects available to them this spring. It's imperative that they nail the selection.

But in PFSN analyst James Fragoza has them, in the latest mock draft, making a curious pick that, in all honesty, would be a horrible misfire.

Latest mock draft has inexplicable choice for Carolina Panthers

Dec 13, 2025; New York, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love speaks to the media during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis before the presentation of the Heisman trophy. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Getting a Heisman finalist at 16th overall is pretty solid, especially when said Heisman finalist has had a good career in college. But since the finalists this year were three QBs and a running back, the Panthers should not be scouting any of them.

But the latest mock draft from PFSN's James Fragoza sees the Panthers throw away their pick by adding Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

In doing so, the Panthers pass on:

• LB Sonny Styles
• CB Avieon Terrell
• EDGE T.J. Parker
• CB Colton Hood

In all honesty, the Panthers could take literally any first-round prospect at any other position outside quarterback, and it would make more sense. Running back is literally the one pick they can and should ignore.

"Jeremiyah Love will almost certainly go much higher than 16th in the real draft, but that’s how the board has fallen here," Fragoza wrote.

He continued, "The Carolina Panthers end the slide and add the top RB to an offense finding its form with Bryce Young under center and Tetairoa McMillan out wide."

Oct 19, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (23) evades a tackle by New York Jets kicker Nick Folk (6) in the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

There's zero reason for the Panthers to consider this. In the last two years, they've spent a second-round pick on Jonathon Brooks, a fourth-round pick on Trevor Etienne, and extended Chuba Hubbard.

They also signed Rico Dowdle, who has made a fantastic case to be re-signed this offseason. The point is, the backfield is painfully crowded as it is.

Adding Love would give them the best back in the draft, but that's literally the furthest thing from a need. Maybe Brooks' knee is shot, and maybe Dowdle leaves in free agency. They still don't need Love.

Hubbard is a more than capable starter, and Etienne can be the backup. Anything else is excessive, so even having Brooks around is a bit much. Adding Love would be foolish, and it's the kind of move that could derail this entire rebuild.

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