What the odds tell us about the Panthers' 1st-round pick for 2026
According to the odds, the Panthers may go down a familiar path with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers have used their last two first-round draft picks on receiver prospects. In 2024, they traded up to the bottom of Round 1 to grab South Carolina's Xavier Legette, then stayed put at No. 8 overall in 2025 to take Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan.
So far, the two picks couldn't have diverged anymore than they have. While McMillan became the first Panther to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors since quarterback Cam Newton (2011), Legette has been wildly inconsistent and unproductive—struggling with the basics such as drops and footwork. If Legette was panning out, perhaps the outlook on their next first-round selection may be different.
But for now, according to the latest odds at Draft Kings Sportsbook , Carolina's most-likely choice in Round 1 is yet another wideout. Here's a look at their odds to pick each position: Panthers first-round pick odds Wide receiver: +250 Defensive line/Edge: +260 Tight end: +300 Offensive line: +400 Safety: +550 Cornerback: +850 Linebacker: +2500 Running back: +4500 Quarterback: +4500 Specialist: +25000 The top wide receiver prospect in this class is Ohio State's Carnell Tate, who should be long gone by the time Carolina is on the clock at No. 19 overall.
USC's Makai Lemon, Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. and Washington's Denzel Boston round out the top five. It may sound like overkill to go wide receiver again, but the fact is that quarterback Bryce Young has one of the league's worst skill groups to work with.