Pawt'S MOCK DRAFT
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Pawt'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 31, 2026

Panthers 1 p

  • Pawt DRAFTING FOR THE
    Panthers
Draft Selections
Kenyon Sadiq Head Shot
PICK: 26 RND: 1 (CAR)
Kenyon Sadiq
TE Oregon
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 51 RND: 2 (CAR)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Connor Lew Head Shot
PICK: 83 RND: 3 (CAR)
Connor Lew
C Auburn
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 91 RND: 3 (CAR)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Zachariah Branch Head Shot
PICK: 119 RND: 4 (CAR)
Zachariah Branch
WR Georgia
Davison Igbinosun Head Shot
PICK: 157 RND: 5 (CAR)
Davison Igbinosun
CB Ohio State
Terion Stewart Head Shot
PICK: 165 RND: 5 (CAR)
Terion Stewart
RB Virginia Tech
Patrick Payton Head Shot
PICK: 166 RND: 5 (CAR)
Patrick Payton
DL-EDGE LSU
Trey Zuhn III Head Shot
PICK: 198 RND: 6 (CAR)
Trey Zuhn III
OT Texas A&M
Tosh Baker Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (CAR)
Tosh Baker
OT Notre Dame
Tony Rojas Head Shot
PICK: 244 RND: 7 (CAR)
Tony Rojas
LB Penn State
Draft Picks Received
Kenyon Sadiq Head Shot
PICK: 26 RND: 1 (BUF)
Kenyon Sadiq
TE Oregon
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 91 RND: 3 (BUF)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Terion Stewart Head Shot
PICK: 165 RND: 5 (HOU)
Terion Stewart
RB Virginia Tech
Patrick Payton Head Shot
PICK: 166 RND: 5 (BUF)
Patrick Payton
DL-EDGE LSU
Tony Rojas Head Shot
PICK: 244 RND: 7 (HOU)
Tony Rojas
LB Penn State
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (HOU)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Makai Lemon Head Shot
PICK: 19 RND: 1 (BUF)
Makai Lemon
WR USC
Rayshaun Benny Head Shot
PICK: 156 RND: 5 (HOU)
Rayshaun Benny
DL Michigan
Draft Grade — Panthers
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Panthers a B-.

When the story of this class is written, it opens with Patrick Payton at slot 166, a reach of 35 spots that the board flatly disagrees with.

If one pick saves this weekend, it is Wheatley. For all the activity, quarterback went untouched, which is hard to explain.

Wide receiver was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.

A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.

Pick Analysis
Pick26 Rnd1 Kenyon Sadiq
In slot 26 they get a seam-stretching tight end at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick51 Rnd2 Sonny Styles
Sonny Styles at pick 51 is money in the bank, a linebacker taken below his worth. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick83 Rnd3 Connor Lew
A top-tier offensive lineman at a bargain, Connor Lew in the 83rd pick, plain and simple. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick91 Rnd3 Zakee Wheatley
Somehow Zakee Wheatley was still sitting there in No. 91, and they pounced on premier safety value. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick119 Rnd4 Zachariah Branch
A slide stopped in the Round 4 slot, with Zachariah Branch worth more than the price. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick157 Rnd5 Davison Igbinosun
The board had Davison Igbinosun higher than pick No. 157, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick165 Rnd5 Terion Stewart
Terion Stewart slipping to pick No. 165 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick166 Rnd5 Patrick Payton
They left a pile of value on the table to take Patrick Payton this early at No. 166. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick198 Rnd6 Trey Zuhn III
They took Trey Zuhn III at par in pick 198, which is nothing to complain about. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick235 Rnd7 Tosh Baker
Tosh Baker at the 235th pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The roster fit checks out.
Pick244 Rnd7 Tony Rojas
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Tony Rojas well ahead of where he belonged. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.