The NFL’s new league year doesn’t officially begin until the second week of March, when some of the most impactful players in the NFL move on to new franchises and immediately shape the new season.
But 2026, for all intents and purposes, begins next week.
Particularly for the Carolina Panthers.
Monday marks the beginning of the NFL Scouting Combine. Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan are slated to speak to media on Tuesday, and prospects have their availabilities starting Wednesday. The combine drills, same as every year, begin Thursday and end Sunday.
Why is this year’s combine of consequence for Carolina? The Panthers, coming off an 8-10 season that saw their first playoff appearance in eight seasons and their first NFC South championship in a decade, have a lot of momentum. But they also have clear spots in their roster to improve. That’s particularly true at a few positions that — depending on how things go in free agency in March — could be filled with their No. 19 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.
Here’s everything you should know ahead of this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, including the week’s drills schedule, Panthers positions of need, as well players in the combine with substantial North Carolina and South Carolina ties.
3 burning questions facing the Panthers at NFL Scouting Combine
These are the three questions on our minds ahead of talking with Panthers decision-makers at the combine.
1. What is the front office’s strategy on fixing the pass rush? There’s no escaping it: The Panthers had trouble generating pressure on the quarterback in 2025. The team was 31st in pressure rate last season and one of its sack leaders was Derrick Brown — who had a wonderful year (5 sacks) ... but he’s still an interior defensive lineman. Morgan was not shy about saying that bulking up the pass rush will be a priority this offseason, calling the unit’s production “not acceptable” and adding: “If you’re a true fan of our team, you know our needs.”
Now, how exactly will that look? Does that mean going after some of the unrestricted free agents come March? Do you take a chance on Trey Hendrickson, even if the scheme fit is iffy? Is there a path to trading for Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby? What about Dolphins veteran Bradley Chubb — who has been productive in an Ejiro Evero system before?
And if something substantive doesn’t materialize over free agency, should the Panthers take a risk and try to take an EDGE rusher late in the first round? This year’s pass-rusher class is really top-heavy. Some names that come to mind: Rueben Bain Jr. out of Miami, David Bailey out of Texas Tech and Arvell Reese out of Ohio State. But then some talents might fall to the Panthers perfectly — whether that be Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M and Akheem Mesidor out of Miami, who are 17th and 18th on Daniel Jeremiah’s board, respectively.
2. What does the future of the offense look like with the addition of Darrell Bevell? The Panthers went out and hired Bevell as their new associate head coach and offensive specialist earlier this month. It’s still unclear what his responsibilities will be, but it might be interesting to see how Bevell’s introduction to the staff — as an experienced play-caller — could change processes. Canales has called the plays on offense since being named head coach in 2024. With Bevell on staff, does Canales opt to take a more “CEO” role and hand play-calling duties off to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik with Bevell to usher him through the transition?
Related: The Panthers are heading into their third year with all four of their top coaches in their same roles — Canales, Idzik, Ejiro and special teams coordinator Tracy Smith. All things remaining equal, there isn’t any reason to expect other consequential coaching additions or shifts on the horizon. But asking about other coaching changes could make sense, too.
3. Could the Panthers take an inside linebacker at pick No. 19? This Panthers front office has done something pretty interesting: They’ve used free agency to go out and set the market for the so-called “non-premium” positions. Think of their efforts to get interior offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in 2024, and then their work to get safety Tre’Von Moehrig last year. That’s left them using the draft to get the “premium” — in other words, really expensive — positions. They’ve drafted wide receivers in the first rounds of the last two drafts. They drafted two pass rushers in the second and third rounds in 2025 with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
If trends persist, it would make sense if the Panthers take a chance at a pass rusher in this year’s first-round pick. Maybe even another wide receiver. But considering the Panthers will likely be looking to stock up at inside linebacker — with Christian Rozeboom as an unrestricted free agent this year, especially — could the Panthers take an inside linebacker in the first round? Maybe Georgia linebacker CJ Allen? If they do, it would be a big deal; the Panthers haven’t taken a linebacker in the first round since Shaq Thompson in 2015 — and before him, Luke Kuechly in 2012.
Draft prospects with North Carolina and South Carolina ties
Quarterbacks (1): Cade Klubnik (Clemson)
Running backs (4): Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest), Rahsul Faison (South Carolina), Adam Randall (Clemson, Myrtle Beach, S.C.), J’Mari Taylor (Virginia, Charlotte)
Wide receivers (2): KC Concepcion (Texas A&M, Charlotte), Antonio Williams (Clemson; Columbia, S.C.)
Tight ends (1): Justin Joly (N.C. State)
Offensive linemen (4): Fa’alili Fa’amoe (Wake Forest), Monroe Freeling (Georgia; Charleston, S.C.), Blake Miller (Clemson), Brian Parker II (Duke)
Defensive linemen (7): Vincent Anthony Jr. (Duke), Nick Barrett (South Carolina; Goldsboro, N.C.), DeMonte Capehart (Clemson), Brandon Cleveland (N.C. State), TJ Parker (Clemson), Wesley Williams (Duke), Peter Woods (Clemson)
Linebackers (1): Wade Woodaz (Clemson)
Defensive backs (5): Marcus Allen (UNC), Thaddeus Dixon (UNC), Jalen Kilgore (South Carolina), Chandler Rivers (Duke), Avieon Terrell (Clemson)
Panthers’ draft picks, projected salary cap space
Here are the Panthers’ 2026 draft picks:
Their own first-rounder (No. 19)
Their own second-rounder (No. 52)
Their own third-rounder (No. 83)
Their own fourth-rounder (No. 115)
Minnesota’s fifth-rounder (No. 146)
Their own fifth-rounder (No. 147)
Their own sixth-rounder (No. 179)
It’s also worth noting that the Panthers are projected to have $12.6 million in team cap space come the new league year in March, according to Over The Cap. That’s the 19th-most cap space in the NFL, right below the league median.
NFL Scouting Combine on-field drills schedule
The on-field drills will run from Thursday to Sunday. Watch on NFL Network and stream on NFL+.
Thursday, 3 p.m.: Defensive linemen and linebackers
Friday, 3 p.m.: Defensive backs and tight ends
Saturday, 1 p.m.: Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs
Sunday, 1 p.m.: Offensive linemen