CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Free agency is in the rearview mirror, but the Carolina Panthers still have massive holes to plug. Pro Football Focus just dropped a seven-round Panthers 2026 NFL Draft simulation that attempts to fix the offense—but instead, it raises some serious questions. Carolina lands a defensive absolute steal at No. 19 overall in Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk, but then the algorithm goes rogue, spending three separate picks on tight ends. Let’s break down the madness.
Auburn’s Keldric Faulk slipping to pick 19 is highway robbery. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound edge rusher doesn’t just push the pocket; he crushes it. The Panthers might not desperately need an edge rusher right now, but you don’t pass on a guy scouts call a high-character culture player with elite movement skills. He operates best in odd fronts and brings serious day-one starter energy. Following Faulk, the Panthers grab Oklahoma EDGE R. Mason Thomas at No. 51. Thomas is smaller at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, but he packs a lightning-fast twitch. He slips into gaps before big tackles can set their feet.
Here is where the PFF simulator lost its mind. Carolina takes Ohio State’s Max Klare at No. 83. Klare battled back from an injury-shortened stint at Purdue to become a first-team All-Big Ten star for the Buckeyes in 2025. He stands 6-foot-4 and proved his worth as a pass-catcher who manipulates leverage and attacks zone coverage. He’s a solid get. But the Panthers weren’t done. They grab Cincinnati’s Joe Royer at No. 158 and Houston’s Tanner Koziol at No. 200.
Koziol caught 74 passes for 727 yards last year for the Cougars and brings a massive catch radius for the slot. It’s an aggressive overhaul for a single position group, signaling a heavy shift toward 12- and 13-personnel packages.
To round out the receiving corps, Carolina takes a flyer on Miami’s CJ Daniels (No. 119) and Baylor’s Josh Cameron (No. 159). Daniels thrives on late separation tactics, while Cameron is a 220-pound bruiser who fights through contact. You can already picture the scene at Bank of America Stadium: a chilly Sunday afternoon where Cameron bullies a defensive back for a crucial third-down conversion to move the chains in a cold January game.
“We aren’t looking for guys who just want to wear the uniform. We want dogs. If you can’t fight through contact and move the chains when it’s ugly, you don’t belong in Carolina.”
— Dan Morgan, General Manager
This draft strategy shifts Carolina’s offensive identity entirely. Loading up on massive tight ends like Koziol and Klare gives the quarterback big middle-of-the-field targets and extra blockers for the run game. If Faulk anchors the defensive line as expected, the Panthers instantly become a tougher, more physical team in the NFC South. Free agency addressed the perimeter; this draft attacks the trenches and the seams. The front office now needs to sort out exactly how many tight ends they actually plan to carry on the 53-man roster before training camp kicks off.
