The 2026 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away. While most attention focuses on quarterbacks and edge rushers in the first round, several NFC teams carry quieter roster gaps that could derail their seasons if left unaddressed. The Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, and Atlanta Falcons each face a surprising need—one that analyst Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently flagged for all three franchises. However, the middle and late rounds will likely hold the solutions.
Carolina Panthers: Cap Pressure Is Building on the Interior Line
The Panthers boast one of the league’s most expensive guard duos heading into the 2026 NFL season. Robert Hunt ranks as the third-highest-paid right guard in the NFL. Damien Lewis checks in as the fourth-highest-paid left guard. Neither player hits NFL free agency until 2028, which sounds stable—but the sustained cap hits on both contracts will eventually force a difficult conversation in Charlotte.
Hunt earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024 but was limited to just two regular-season games in 2025 due to injury. Lewis, meanwhile, posted a 77.7 PFF grade last season, ranking him seventh among all guards league-wide. Both players are performing well. However, general manager Dan Morgan still faces a real problem at center after losing Cade Mays to the Detroit Lions in free agency.
Carolina responded by signing Luke Fortner to a one-year deal. That is a bridge move, not a long-term answer. As a result, Ballentine believes the Panthers should use the 2026 NFL Draft to find a developmental interior lineman—someone who can compete at center now and potentially replace one of the expensive guards later. Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge, and Iowa’s Gennings Dunker are three prospects with the toughness and versatility to fit that role. Any of them on a bargain contract would give Morgan crucial flexibility heading into future cap cycles.
Green Bay Packers: The Backfield Depth Question Nobody Is Asking
Josh Jacobs is not the issue in Green Bay. He powered through a knee injury in 2025, rushing for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games while adding 36 receptions out of the backfield. He has two years remaining on his $48 million contract. The Packers’ lead back situation is settled.
Everything behind Jacobs is missing.
Emanuel Wilson, who combined for 998 rushing yards over the past two seasons as Green Bay’s primary rotational piece, signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. That departure leaves a real void. Chris Brooks re-signed on a two-year extension in early March and will compete for the backup role, but his ceiling as a contributor is limited.
MarShawn Lloyd is the wildcard. Green Bay selected the pass-catching back in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has appeared in just one game over two years due to recurring injuries. His durability remains the core concern, not his talent.
From our field observation, sustaining a ground attack in a zone run game like Matt LaFleur’s requires reliable depth—not just a workhorse starter. Indiana’s Roman Hemby is a one-cut runner who fits LaFleur’s system perfectly. Oregon’s Noah Whittington provides a versatile skill set. Navy’s Eli Heidenreich is a hybrid option who could line up as both a running back and a slot receiver, the kind of creative scheme fit LaFleur tends to maximize. Investing a Day 3 pick in any of these prospects would incur minimal cost for Green Bay, but it could potentially mark the conclusion of Lloyd’s career.
Atlanta Falcons: Aging Veterans and an ACL Create Real Urgency at Tackle
Atlanta has built one of the more consistent offensive lines in the NFC South in recent seasons. That consistency is now under threat. Left tackle Jake Matthews turned 34 in February. Right tackle Kaleb McGary is recovering from a torn ACL. Together, those two situations create genuine offensive tackle uncertainty entering the 2026 NFL season.
General manager Ian Cunningham has been aggressive this offseason under new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Still, the 2026 NFL Draft remains the most important tool available for solving this problem. Atlanta holds five picks and has expressed interest in acquiring more.
Utah’s Caleb Lomu is the top target on Day 2. At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, he is technically refined and explosive—a natural scheme fit for an offense that values athleticism up front. Pairing him with offensive line coach Bill Callahan could unlock significant developmental upside. Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor offers similar athletic traits and enormous long-term potential despite being relatively new to the sport.
Later in the draft, Boston College’s Jude Bowry carries real starter upside if he cleans up his technique. Miami’s Markell Bell—a massive 6-foot-9, 346-pound prospect with arm length in the 98th percentile—is a high-reward developmental swing in the fourth round. The Falcons learned last season what happens when tackle depth disappears during training camp. Cunningham clearly intends not to repeat that lesson. Three teams. Three different roster gaps. One shared opportunity to fix them before the clock runs out on April 23 in Pittsburgh.
