Carolina Panthers Address Need on Defense in Updated Mock Draft
· Yahoo Sports
The 2026 NFL season is still months away but training camp will be here before we know it. The Carolina Panthers will open up training camp a little earlier this year as they are set to play in the NFL's Hall of Fame preseason game.
While the focus is on 2026, the Panthers are looking to improve from their 8-9 finish last season even with them making the playoffs. They need to get better and that's the goal in 2026.
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But what if things go wrong?
It's never too early to look ahead to the 2027 offseason, especially as we hit the Summer lull. Pro Football Network released their updated mock draft and it's not good news for Carolina.
The publication has the Panthers picking No. 8 overall come next April's draft. That likely means a third or fourth place finish in the division and an even worse record than last season.
With the pick, they have the Panthers addressing a big need at the safety position. In the mock, the Panthers take Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson. Here is what they said about the pick and the fit for the Panthers:
This is where a player like Notre Dame’s Tae Johnson can come into the fold. A part of one of the best secondaries in college football, Johnson put up an elite season in 2025, logging a PFN Safety Impact score of 95.8, outranking 2026 first-round picks Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman. On film, there are not too many flaws in Johnson’s game, making him a true blue-chip prospect at the position. Another elite year at Notre Dame will only further prove what some fans and analysts already know: Johnson is a first-round talent.
While the Panthers' defense is strong overall, the weak links are at safety. Johnson would be a good fit for a defense that needs to improve on that back line.
The Panthers opted to pass on taking a safety in the 2026 NFL Draft, passing on a few prospects. That could backfire for them this season and if it does, don't be surprised if safety is the pick regardless of where they are set to pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.