Panthers Load Up Early in Mock Draft

0:00On April 9th, Mott Draft Season is in full swing for the 2026 NFL Draft, and Chad Warder's latest 5-round projection from NFL.com has the Carolina Panthers loading up early. They snag wide receiver Kenyan Sadiq in the first round, then grab edge rusher Malachai Lawrence at pick 51 in the second, followed by wide. Receiver Deon Berks in the third. This draft class is stacked at edge and receiver, so Caroline escapes those in round 1 to build smart. Lawrence out of UCF had a breakout 2025 with 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles, earning first team all. Big. 12 honors. As 6 foot 4 and over 250 pounds, he's a physical freak who ranks second in athleticism among edge guys at the combine. Fans and analysts love how this bolsters Bryce Young's options right away. Sadiq and Berks create a balanced receiver room with different skill sets, while Lawrence gives defensive coordinator a Giro-Evro depth behind Jalen.

1:00Phillips and Nick Scourdon, even after the recent signing, Berks turn heads at the combine with a 4.340 yard dash and a 42.5 inch vertical. At 5 foot 10 and 188 pounds, his hands, yards after catchability, and slot speed make him a jet-sweep nightmare, ranking. Third in athleticism for receivers. These picks hit both sides of the ball hard. Playing Panthers weaknesses into strengths and setting up a dynamic offense around Young. Perfect value in. A deep class.