The 2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday night, and NC Football News is tracking it all — from every pick made by the Carolina Panthers to players with ties across North Carolina’s college and high school ranks.
This page will be updated throughout the draft weekend with Panthers selections and North Carolina-connected players taken across all seven rounds, and notable storylines as they develop.
The draft always brings a mix of headline moments and under-the-radar opportunities, and for players across the Old North State, this weekend marks the next step in their football journeys.
🔗 Jump To:
Carolina Panthers Draft Selections
NC College Players Drafted
NC High School Players Drafted
Undrafted Free Agents & Mini-Camp Invitees
📌 Last updated: April 23, 2026 — Updates will be added throughout draft weekend
Carolina Panthers Picks
The draft begins Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m., with the Panthers holding the No. 19 overall pick in the first round.
Carolina enters draft weekend with seven total selections:
- Round 1, No. 19 overall
- Round 2, No. 51 overall
- Round 3, No. 83 overall
- Round 4, No. 119 overall
- Round 5, No. 158 overall (from Minnesota Vikings)
- Round 5, No. 159 overall
- Round 6, No. 200 overall
Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday night beginning at 7 p.m., with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, starting at noon. Picks are subject to change.
🔄 Latest Update
No picks yet — Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m.
🏈 North Carolina College Players Drafted
This section will track players selected from North Carolina college programs throughout the 2026 NFL Draft.
Several players from North Carolina schools have appeared in recent mock drafts and could hear their names called this weekend:
- TE Justin Joly (NC State)
- DT Brandon Cleveland (NC State)
- EDGE Cian Slone (NC State)
- LB Caden Fordham (NC State)
- DB Marcus Allen (UNC)
- DB Thaddeus Dixon (UNC)
- OT Brian Parker II (Duke)
- EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr. (Duke)
- CB Chandler Rivers (Duke)
- EDGE Wesley Williams (Duke)
- WR Anthony Smith (ECU)
- RB Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
NC High School Players Drafted
This section will track players with ties to North Carolina high school programs who hear their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft.
According to HighSchoolOT these former North Carolina prep standouts are among the most likely to be selected during the draft:
- WR KC Concepcion (Charlotte | Chambers HS | Texas A&M/NC State )
- DT Nick Barrett (Goldsboro | Eastern Wayne HS | South Carolina)
- OL Diego Pounds (Raleigh | Millbrook HS | Ole Miss/UNC)
- RB J’Mari Taylor (Charlotte | West Mecklenburg HS | Virginia/NCCU)
- EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr. (Durham | Jordan HS | Duke)
🤝 UDFA Signings & Mini Camp Invites
(The dream isn’t over — it’s just beginning)
Scores of players who don’t hear their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft still may be signed as Undrafted Free Agents (UDFA) or invited to mini-camps.
An Undrafted Free Agent signs a contract and is guaranteed a spot on a team’s 90-man roster. A mini-camp invitee is invited to tryout for a roster spot during what amounts to a three-day audition with no guarantees.
This section will track undrafted free agents and mini-camp invitees with ties to North Carolina.
Follow along all weekend as we track every Carolina Panthers pick and those with North Carolina connections.
