Panthers trade back, still nab top WR prospect in new 2026 mock draft
The Ringer's latest mock draft has the Panthers trading down into the bottom of the first round, where they still find a top WR prospect.
Could the Carolina Panthers have their cake and eat it too on the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft? The Ringer's Diante Lee has the reigning NFC South champions moving down in the first round of his latest mock . He maps out a trade with the Miami Dolphins—who grab Carolina's first-round pick (No.
19 overall) and a fifth-round pick in exchange for their first-rounder (No. 30) and two third-rounders. And with that 30th overall selection, Lee has the Panthers taking Arizona State University wide receiver Jordyn Tyson: Tyson would be the first receiver taken in my mock drafts if I knew he’d stay healthy, but his inability to get through college seasons without injury has given me serious pause about placing him in the first round at all.
His tape is hard to ignore, though. He has the route-running chops, the catch radius, and the versatility to be an NFL team’s best receiver. And in Carolina, he’d be able to work as an inside-out threat in the intermediate level, eating up soft holes in zone coverage.
I’m crossing my fingers that Tyson can stay healthy in the pros, because he’s as enjoyable a player to watch as you’ll find in this class. Tyson's injuries limited him to just 33 games over his four collegiate campaigns. But when he wasn't limited, the 6-foot-2, 203-pounder was one of the most productive pass catchers in the nation—as he totaled 1,802 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns over his last two seasons for the Sun Devils.