19 players with best odds to be Panthers' pick at 19

As he's always done since taking the reins as the president of football operations and general manager of the Carolina Panthers, Dan Morgan stood by his draft approach on Tuesday—telling reporters that he'll be looking to take the best player available with this year's 19th overall pick. But who is most likely to be available when the team hits the clock next Thursday night?

ESPN Analytics has attempted to predict which prospects have the best chances of being taken with each the top 96 selections of the 2026 NFL Draft. Through their NFL Draft Day Predictor, the worldwide leader has come up with the following 19 names for Carolina's first-rounder . . .

ESPN Draft Day Predictor

Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman leads the pack at 12 percent. The 2025 first-team All-American posted 96 tackles, a sack and two interceptions for the Ducks this past season.

He's followed by Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who notched 937 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns en route to a national championship. If Cooper is ultimately the pick here, the Panthers will have selected a wideout in the first round for the third straight draft.

Here's the entire 19-prospect field and their approximate chances:

• S Dillon Thieneman: 12 percent
• WR Omar Cooper Jr.: 9.5 percent
• QB Ty Simpson: 8.3 percent
• OL Olaivavega Ioane: 8.2 percent
• OL Kadyn Proctor: 8 percent
• TE Kenyon Sadiq: 8 percent
• S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren: 8 percent
• EDGE Akheem Mesidor: 4 percent
• OL Monroe Freeling: 3.8 percent
• WR Jordyn Tyson: 3.5 percent
• WR Makai Lemon: 3.5 percent
• OL Blake Miller: 2.8 percent
• WR KC Concepcion: 2.7 percent
• DL Peter Woods: 2.5 percent