jeffreystacie'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

jeffreystacie'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 20, 2026

3

  • jeffreystacie DRAFTING FOR THE
    Panthers
Draft Selections
Makai Lemon Head Shot
PICK: 19 RND: 1 (CAR)
Makai Lemon
WR USC
Dani Dennis-Sutton Head Shot
PICK: 51 RND: 2 (CAR)
Dani Dennis-Sutton
DE-EDGE Penn State
Keionte Scott Head Shot
PICK: 83 RND: 3 (CAR)
Keionte Scott
CB Miami
Malachi Lawrence Head Shot
PICK: 119 RND: 4 (CAR)
Malachi Lawrence
DE-EDGE UCF
Aaron Graves Head Shot
PICK: 156 RND: 5 (CAR)
Aaron Graves
DL Iowa
Bryce Boettcher Head Shot
PICK: 157 RND: 5 (CAR)
Bryce Boettcher
LB Oregon
Eric O'Neill Head Shot
PICK: 198 RND: 6 (CAR)
Eric O'Neill
DE-EDGE Rutgers
Kalil Alexander Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (CAR)
Kalil Alexander
LB-EDGE Texas State
Draft Grade — Panthers
Overall B-
ValueC+ NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
More right than wrong for the Panthers, and a B- to prove it.

When the story of this class is written, it opens with Eric O'Neill at the 198th overall pick, a reach of 61 spots that the board flatly disagrees with. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.

Leaving offensive lineman unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. That Scott pick is the receipt they will wave around later.

Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 4 of 9 of the wish list covered. Nearly every premium pick went to that side of the ball.

Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.

Pick Analysis
Pick19 Rnd1 Makai Lemon
In the 19th pick they get a home-run threat at receiver. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick51 Rnd2 Dani Dennis-Sutton
Value said wait; Dani Dennis-Sutton in the 51st overall pick says they were not listening. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick83 Rnd3 Keionte Scott
Keionte Scott is a better player than the Round 3 slot suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick119 Rnd4 Malachi Lawrence
They reached a country mile for Malachi Lawrence at Round 4, Pick 19, and the board is aghast. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick156 Rnd5 Aaron Graves
They liked Aaron Graves enough to skip the value, taking him in pick 156. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick157 Rnd5 Bryce Boettcher
They paid a round early for Bryce Boettcher in pick No. 157, more than the board wanted. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick198 Rnd6 Eric O'Neill
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Eric O'Neill well ahead of where he belonged. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick235 Rnd7 Kalil Alexander
This one needs a full-page explanation: Kalil Alexander in pick 235, miles early. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.