Panthers reporter connects team to 'immediate impact player' in new 7-round mock draft

If the Carolina Panthers want an instant return on this year's first-round pick, then they might want to listen to one of their top beat reporters. Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer cooked up a new seven-round mock draft for the team this weekend. He starts his projections by hooking up the Panthers with University of Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 19th overall selection.

He writes: The Panthers can afford to upgrade over the recently retained Nick Scott, and Thieneman would be an excellent piece next to Tre’von Moehrig on the back end of the defense. Three-safety looks with Moehrig, Thieneman and Lathan Ransom would have a bit more range, as the Oregon defensive back has coverage ability that eludes the current depth chart at the position. As Kaye notes, Carolina brought back veteran Nick Scott—who started in all of the team's 18 games from 2025—on a one-year deal.

But even despite watching Scott amass a career-high 111 combined tackles, the Panthers could use more of a playmaker in their secondary. Thieneman tallied six interceptions for Purdue in 2023, his first collegiate campaign. This past season saw the rangy six-foot, 201-pounder post 96 tackles, a sack, two picks and five passes defensed.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Dillon Thieneman to Panthers in beat writer's new mock