The Carolina Panthers fully expect to make the playoffs in 2026. After all, the team won the NFC South in 2025, and if anything, the roster should be even better this season.
However, the NFL is an unpredictable league, and things rarely go according to plan. Is it possible the wheels fall off in 2026? At least one mock draft seems to think so.
Cameron Sheath of PFSN recently published an updated 2027 mock, and it has a double dose of bad news for the Panthers.
Panthers Predicted to Land Top-10 Pick in 2027
Sheath has the Panthers picking at No. 8. Obviously, that would mean the 2026 season does not go the Panthers' way, as a top 10 pick means one of the worst records in the league.
That would be a very discouraging result after all the positive momentum the Panthers have been building this offseason. Sheath has the Panthers finishing third in the NFC South, with the New Orleans Saints picking at No. 9 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking at No. 19.
The Panthers do have one of the toughest schedules in the league in 2026, but that wouldn't make anybody feel better about ending with a top pick again. It would also be interesting to see what repercussions would come from a season like this, especially surrounding Bryce Young.
Panthers Also Predicted to Lose Mike Jackson
So we know it's disappointing to land with a top 10 pick, but who does Sheath have the Panthers selecting? In this mock, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore is the Panthers' pick.
Sheath gives the Panthers a cornerback because he projects the team will lose fellow corner Mike Jackson in free agency. Jackson has been one of the most underrated corners in the league, but he and the team are reportedly not close to reaching an extension.
Jackson would be a huge loss for this secondary, as he and Jaycee Horn form one of the best duos in the league.
To be fair, though, Moore is expected to be one of the best corners in the 2027 class.
"In 2025, Moore earned a PFN CB Impact Score of 93.8, which ranked third among all CBs, behind only Chris Johnson and Mansoor Delane, both first-round picks," Sheath explained. "The Panthers’ impressive secondary is set to lose Mike Jackson to free agency in 2027, as his performances at Carolina have likely earned him a solid payday. Moore steps straight in to lock down one side of the Panthers’ secondary for years to come."
There's no doubt that it would be disappointing to pick inside the top 10 and to lose Jackson in free agency. The Panthers are certainly hoping this is one of those mocks that ages poorly.
