In The Corner

On the surface, the Carolina Panthers appear set at cornerback heading into the 2026 season. They don't have a ton of depth or a sure thing at nickel, but Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are a top-10 duo in the league. Even so, expanding the depth pool is a necessity for two reasons: Jackson is aging out of the window for top-tier cornerback play, and Horn, despite staying healthy the last two seasons, missed significant time in each of his first four years — a pattern that's hard to fully dismiss.

Because of this, cornerback shouldn't be ruled out as a first-round target. Early mock drafts and simulators suggest the position could become the best available option depending on how the board falls, and the need is genuine. Counting on Horn for all 17 games is a stretch, and at nearly 30, Jackson is approaching the end of his usefulness at a position that ages players quickly.

There's also a strategic case for going corner in round one. Most NFL teams deploy three cornerbacks on more than 60% of their snaps, making positional depth less of a luxury and more of a requirement. If the Panthers don't address it early, they need to find value later. Taking a flier on a traits-based prospect in the later rounds — whether a tall, longer corner or a smaller, faster player-could provide depth and immediate special teams contributions.