Should Panthers use 2026 NFL Draft pick on running back? Cases for and against
As the Panthers prepare for next week’s NFL Draft, the Carolina brass will need to prioritize some aspects of their depth chart over others.
With seven selections in the first six rounds, the team is fully stocked with its pick inventory. But even with those selections, it’ll be hard to satisfy all of Carolina’s depth needs. So, GM Dan Morgan and the rest of the Panthers’ decision-makers will need to focus on the notable holes in their overarching lineup, for this season and beyond.
The running back position has clear question marks heading into the selection process. And while the team is hopeful for a bounce-back year from Chuba Hubbard and a major injury turnaround from former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, Morgan and company can’t simply rest on their optimism.
The free-agent addition of A.J. Dillon and the second-year ascension of Trevor Etienne will be major projections for the folks at Bank of America Stadium, and those expected trajectories could weigh heavily into the team’s draft plans, particularly in the middle rounds of the draft.
Current running back depth chart
- Chuba Hubbard: The well-paid veteran is coming off a down season after struggling with a calf injury for most of the 2025 campaign. While he ended up serving as a steady hand out of the backfield during the home stretch of the NFC South title run, Hubbard needs to return to 2024 form to hold onto the top spot in the lineup.
- Jonathon Brooks: The 2024 second-round pick has played in just three NFL games over the past two seasons due to a pair of ACL surgeries, with the first dating back to his college career at Texas. Still only 22, Brooks’ upside has yet to be explored, but the Panthers are hoping he can close out the last two years of his rookie contract with notable production.
- Trevor Etienne: Last year’s primary kick and punt returner received limited touches on offense last year. Despite the Panthers being enamored with his upside during last year’s draft, the 2025 fourth-round pick has yet to show off his versatility in the backfield.
- A.J. Dillon: Signed during the third wave of free agency last month, Dillon has joined the Panthers hoping to bounce back from a forgettable 2025 campaign in Philadelphia. He had just 12 carries last season after missing the entire 2024 campaign with a neck injury.
- Montrell Johnson: A practice-squad holdover with limited game experience, Johnson will look to push for a roster spot or practice squad job this summer.
- Anthony Tyus III: Similar to Johnson, Tyus is more likely to push for a practice-squad return over a 53-man roster spot in training camp.
The case for drafting a running back
The Panthers — specifically head coach Dave Canales — have been adamant about their desire to run the football over the past three offseasons. That’s partially why the Panthers spent a premium pick on Brooks in 2024, despite his recovery from ACL surgery.
However, Brooks’ long-term injury issues have forced the team to look elsewhere for insurance over the past two offseasons.
Last year, the team signed Rico Dowdle in free agency and drafted Etienne to make up for Brooks’ season-long loss. This year, the Panthers added Dillon as a just-in-case option behind their current stable following the departure of Dowdle, who had a breakout campaign in 2025. While Canales has spoken glowingly about Brooks’ recovery and potential role in 2026, the front office can’t simply hope and pray for Brooks to become the player they once projected in the draft.
And for what it’s worth, Carolina has done some due diligence on the running back draft class. The team invited Indiana running back Kaelon Black on a “30” visit, according to KPRC’s Aaron Wilson. Black, the primary back in the college national champion’s backfield, posted 1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his sixth and final college season.
The Panthers don’t need to spend a premium pick on a running back to cultivate important depth behind Hubbard and Brooks. If they’re looking for insurance, they can simply repeat their strategy from last year with a Day 3 pick, similar to Etienne. From there, they can have the prospect, Etienne and Dillon battle to be the third player behind the returning Hubbard and recovering Brooks.
The case against drafting a running back
The Panthers believe in Hubbard. They have a lot of hope for a future featuring Brooks and Etienne. And they’ve also already collected some meaningful insurance in the flyer signing of Dillon.
If they have an injury situation in camp, they can likely browse through the leftovers on the free-agent market. Names like Nick Chubb, Najee Harris, Alexander Mattison and others are still available 10 days before the draft.
This is a big year for Canales. It’s a huge year for quarterback Bryce Young. With offensive coordinator Brad Idzik taking over play-calling, the Panthers have a much more pressing need for pass-catching playmakers than backfield bodies. And so, the Panthers should focus their offensive outlook on weapons at wide receiver and tight end, as well as with improving their offensive line depth.
The Panthers want Brooks and Etienne to elevate themselves in the offense. So, their training camp and preseason touches should be prioritized over getting another draft pick up-to-speed in the backfield. The team can simply sign an undrafted running back (or two) with the notion that the prospect could earn a job in case Brooks has a setback, Etienne struggles to do more in the offense or Dillon fails to stick.
The Panthers are six deep at the position heading into the draft, and that’s a pretty good place to be, especially with several other needs outside of running back. The position is arguably in better shape than quite a few others on the depth chart.
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Should Panthers use 2026 NFL Draft pick on running back? Cases for and against."
