Could Panthers draft a WR in 1st round ... again? Plus a chat with Mitchell Evans

Will the Carolina Panthers consider upgrading their tight end room in Round 1 of next week’s NFL Draft?

Will they consider a long-term succession plan at offensive tackle?

And ... seriously ... could they take a wide receiver in the first round for a third consecutive year?

These are just a sampling of the questions general manager Dan Morgan was asked in his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday — and they’re also the questions tackled on the most recent episode of Processing Blue, an award-winning all-things-Panthers podcast hosted by Observer reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow.

The duo didn’t just stay on the offensive side of the ball. They also discussed what the Panthers could possibly do at the safety position, at nickel and at spots along the defensive line — particularly as the team tries to find its replacement for A’Shawn Robinson, who was released in March.

Kaye also sat down with second-year Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans, who discussed his journey to Carolina, his offseason to date, his stint as a quarterback and how that helped his craft as a tight end — and much more.

Listen to the latest podcast episode at the embed in this story, or download it on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out the show on YouTube.

This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Could Panthers draft a WR in 1st round ... again? Plus a chat with Mitchell Evans."

Alex Zietlow

The Charlotte Observer

Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription

Mike Kaye

The Charlotte Observer

Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription