With the 2025-26 NFL season officially in the books, the Carolina Panthers and general manager Dan Morgan will now begin to prepare for the upcoming offseason.

The Panthers, after making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, will likely be huge players throughout the free agency period, but it’s clear that the organization must have another outstanding class in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, there could be some complications with who the franchise will pick in the first round.

In his most recent mock draft following the conclusion of the Super Bowl, Bleacher Report’s Brett Sobleski had the Panthers selecting Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker at pick No. 19.

“Carolina's defense showed marked improvement in 2025 by finishing in the middle of the pack after being dead-last during the prior season,” Sobleski wrote. "However, room for improvement still exists, particularly after no one among the unit managed more than five sacks. Clemson's T.J. Parker didn't live up to expectations during his final season on campus, though he looked far better during Senior Bowl week.”

After an incredible sophomore season for Parker, many NFL Draft analysts considered the young talent to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In 2024, Parker managed to tally 57 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles, making him one of the best defensive ends at the college level.

However, the hype surrounding the highly-touted pass rusher would not carry over to the 2025 season.

Similar to how the Tigers’ dramatic fall from grace, Parker was unable to repeat his stats from his sophomore season in 2025. As a junior, Parker finished his final college season with 37 tackles, nine tackles for losses, and five sacks. A majority of his pass-rush production, unfortunately, came at the end of the season, as he ended the year with three sacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

While Parker’s athleticism off the line of scrimmage makes him an intriguing prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, the lack of consistency throughout his time with Clemson is a massive red flag.

Parker possesses all the tools to be an excellent defensive end at the NFL level, but the fact that he has yet to put it all together makes it tough to warrant him being selected in round one.

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