The Carolina Panthers enter into Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft with four more selections to continue rounding out an already impressive rookie haul led by general manager Dan Morgan.
The Carolina Panthers have had a very underrated draft haul through the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft coming away with offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II.
It’s a really solid start by general manager Dan Morgan and things will hopefully continue on Day 3 with the Panthers in current possession of three more selections before the draft is all said and done.
Morgan hinted back on Thursday night to expect another offensive lineman to join the team and the Panthers still haven’t addressed the secondary. So, let’s hit those positions and more in this Day 3 mock draft.
Ideally, I’d like to see the Panthers add a top remaining defensive back here in say Keionte Scott, Jalon Kilgore, or Jadon Canady. All of those options were off the board in the simulation I ran, so I pivoted to my top ranked center on the board in Sam Hecht.
Two centers (Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter) went off the board on Day 2, so we could see the center run continue into the fourth-round. The Panthers already added one center this offseason in Luke Fortner, but Hecht could be a long-term starter for this offense and compete for the starting job immediately.
KSU IOL Sam Hecht locks down at guard against Lee Hunter pic.twitter.com/He8U4A3nxE
The cornerback position really thinned out going into the fifth-round, but Ahmari Harvey is an intriguing name. Given his size, Harvey will be best suited in the nickel role and can compete against Chau Smith-Wade for the starting job.
He plays with great effort as a run defender but puts his body on the line to make a tackle. A risky gamble but with limited options it’s worth seeing what he can bring.
Linebacker did not fall in Carolina’s favor in the second-round of the draft. As things stand, I still see Morgan adding another piece to the room on Saturday to pair with Devin Lloyd and Trevin Wallace.
Jimmy Rolder in the sixth-round is great value. He’s a very instinctual player and consistent against the run. While the lack of starting experience is there, it’s hard to find a linebacker with better technique in this entire draft. Morgan, as a former linebacker, should see the upside in this guy.
Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder was a fun watch. Quality instincts, showed smooth change of direction+close, and excellent take on and finishing skills against the run pic.twitter.com/mVdYiCIbFR
To round out the draft, we’re sticking with Haynes King being the target at pick No. 200. Even after signing Will Grier, I can still see the Panthers adding a rookie to the QB room that can develop into a long-term starter behind Bryce Young.
King offers exciting traits and is a strong runner. I’d love to see Dave Canales get him involved in a Taysom Hill-like role as a rookie before settling into the QB2 role in 2027.