Former Texas cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau is joining the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Former Texas Longhorns cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau is getting his NFL opportunity with the Carolina Panthers.
After going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, Guilbeau signed with Carolina on Saturday night, giving the Panthers another young defensive back to evaluate this offseason.
He’ll have to earn his way onto the roster, but the fit gives him a real chance to develop with a team coming off an NFC South title.
Guilbeau was a steady piece of Steve Sarkisian’s Texas defense during his college career. Across 44 games with the Longhorns, the Memorial High School product totaled 124 tackles, one interception and 11 pass breakups.
He wasn’t always the flashiest name on the field, but he consistently gave Texas toughness, coverage versatility and dependable snaps in big moments.
His best season came in 2024, when Guilbeau set career highs with 58 tackles, one sack and 5.5 tackles for loss while playing in 16 games. That production showed his ability to help against the run while still holding up in coverage.
Now, Guilbeau heads to Charlotte looking to turn that college résumé into a role with the Panthers. Carolina already has some familiar Texas flavor on offense, including running back Jonathan Brooks and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, two former Longhorns who became part of the Panthers’ rise last season.
For Guilbeau, special teams could be the quickest path to sticking around.
Undrafted defensive backs often have to prove they can cover kicks, tackle in space and provide depth before earning regular defensive snaps.
Still, Carolina is betting on traits and experience. Guilbeau played a lot of meaningful football at Texas, handled high-level competition and showed he can be a physical presence at cornerback.
His NFL climb starts now, and the Panthers may have found a useful developmental piece after the draft.
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