The Carolina Panthers, two years into the Dan Morgan-Dave Canales era, have yet to draft an offensive lineman.
That is likely to change in 2026.
The organization has selected three wide receivers, two tight ends, two running backs, two defensive backs, two defensive linemen and two outside linebackers during the shared reign of Morgan and Canales. Those multiple selections at several positions have come at the expense of the offensive line. But there are other positions that have been avoided, too.
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine ongoing in Indianapolis, let’s take a look at the three notable position evaded by the organization over the past two drafts:
Quarterback
Last time position was drafted by Panthers: Bryce Young (first round, 2023)
Impending free agents at the position: N/A
Current depth chart under contract: Young, Andy Dalton
The Panthers can’t really be criticized for not selecting a quarterback over the past two years. The team invested a ton of draft capital in Young while trading up for the first overall pick in 2023.
Young has legitimately rebounded from a brutal rookie year and a whirlwind 2024 season that saw him get benched for roughly a third of the campaign. The Heisman trophy-winning passer posted career-high numbers in 2025, and the Panthers have already publicly noted that they will pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
So, Young will be under contract through at least the 2027 season. His longtime veteran backup, Andy Dalton, is entering the final year of his deal.
Morgan hasn’t minced words when discussing his desire to add a younger QB behind Young. The Panthers are hoping to contend long term, and they’ll need to manage costs throughout the roster in order to retain their top-tier talent. Drafting a quarterback on Day 3 could provide the Panthers with a cost-effective backup for Young for years to come. That savings could then help them invest elsewhere.
Dalton is guaranteed $2 million this season. If he were to be traded, the Panthers would save $4 million on the salary cap. That’s probably not enough savings to force a move, but given Morgan’s outlook on getting younger, it could lead to at least some consideration.
Dalton, 38, could also be bounced if the Panthers decide to target it a younger journeyman QB in free agency.
The backup quarterback spot has some offseason intrigue for the first time in a while.
Offensive line
Last time position was drafted by Panthers: G Chandler Zavala (fourth round, 2023)
Impending free agents at the position: C Cade Mays, OT Yosh Nijman, G/C Austin Corbett, T/C Brady Christensen, G/T Jake Curhan
Current depth chart under contract: LT Ickey Ekwonu, LG Damien Lewis, C Nick Samac, RG Rob Hunt, RT Taylor Moton, Zavala, Ja’Tyre Carter, Joshua Gray, Saahdiq Charles
The Panthers are set at three of their five starting positions on the offensive line. However, their outlooks at left tackle and center are certainly unenviable.
Ekwonu ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams last month. And despite being due $17.5 million in the final year of his rookie contract, Ekwonu might miss a good portion of the 2026 season following a notable knee surgery.
Mays, the starting center, is set to become a free agent in March. While he’s played quite well over the past two years, the Panthers might need to pass on re-signing him to improve other positions on the open market. Mays was cut by Carolina in 2024 and lost the 2025 center battle to Corbett this past summer. So, there’s reason to believe the Panthers aren’t totally sold on him being a long-term answer, either.
With all that said, both positions have quite a bit of fluidity.
Having Hunt and Lewis at the guard spots might make Morgan feel better about putting a rookie at center in 2026. The same sentiment, though, probably can’t be said about left tackle, as the Panthers will want to reinforce Young’s blind side with Ekwonu shelved.
Nijman is likely among the internal free agents who Morgan wants to re-sign, and if that pact happens, look for the Panthers to be patient at tackle in the draft.
With Christensen, Curhan, Corbett, Nijman and Mays all set to hit the market, the Panthers are likely to have several new faces on the offensive line depth chart in training camp. The Panthers will probably make multiple moves in the trenches during free agency and the draft.
Selecting a long-term swing tackle with starter upside — especially with Ekwonu set to hit free agency in 2027 — seems inevitable.
Specialist
Last time position was drafted by Panthers: LS Thomas Fletcher (sixth round, 2021)
Impending free agent at the position: P Sam Martin
Current depth chart under contract: LS JJ Jansen, K Ryan Fitzgerald
The last time the Panthers spent a draft pick on a specialist, then-head coach Matt Rhule wasted a selection on challenging Jansen. The longtime long snapper has since played five more seasons, and he just re-signed last week to play his 19th season in the NFL (18th with the Panthers).
Last year, the Panthers patiently waited out the selection process before signing Fitzgerald as an undrafted free agent. Fitzgerald went on to have a strong rookie year, making 82.8% of his field goal attempts and 90% of his extra-point attempts. The kicker also made three game-winning field goals for the NFC South champs.
Will the Panthers follow a similar strategy with punter this offseason?
Martin, who turns 36 on Friday, had a nice campaign for Carolina in 2025. The veteran punter proved he still has plenty left in the tank as he gets ready for free agency again. Last year, Martin signed a one-year deal with the Panthers, so it stands within reason that he could re-up on a similar pact in 2026.
If the Panthers decide to save a few bucks, they could try to go the Fitzgerald route again. It’s unlikely that Morgan would invest one of his seven draft picks on a punter, as rookie specialists can be highly volatile. Instead, the Panthers could, again, take the patient approach and stage a competition with a pair of low-cost (likely young) punters.