Football is played on other surfaces—but on paper, the Carolina Panthers appeared to have put together another very strong draft class.
Going into the 2026 NFL Draft, we knew the Panthers had to hit immediate needs at wide receiver, safety, tight end, defensive tackle and linebacker, as well as long-term needs at center and offensive tackle. Fast forward a few days and they took care of almost everything on that list in one heck of a haul.
Don't take our word for it, though. According to Sports Info Solutions, who graded each team's class, the Panthers had the very best in the entire league.
Draft analyst Nathan Cooper wrote the following on the group:
And with that, the 2026 Best Draft Class, with an average grade of 6.41, goes to the Carolina Panthers. They grabbed solid players throughout the entirety of the draft... They are the first team to receive our top spot after having made the playoffs the season prior. While other teams have shown improvement, the Panthers are in a division that’s very much up for grabs, and this class could solidify their spot at or near the top for the next few seasons
Our favorite pick in the bunch is Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, who should have a real impact from the jump. The 6-foot-3, 318-pound space eater will give Pro Bowler Derrick Brown some real help inside, forcing offenses to account for another disruptive presence in the trenches.
On the other side of the ball, the Chris Brazzell II pick should help the wide receiver room in a similar way. The speedy 6-foot-4 pass catcher offers a much-needed downfield threat and a complement to Tetairoa McMillan, this past season's AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Panthers were also able to build for the future with some picks as well, adding depth at cornerback in Will Lee III and the offensive line with left tackle Monroe Freeling and center Sam Hecht.
We'll have to wait and see how it plays out during the season. For now, this looks a lot like the best roster in the NFC South.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers have SIS's No. 1 class