CHARLOTTE — With the 2024 season in the books, the Panthers know where they'll be drafting.
With a 5-12 record, the Panthers secured the eighth overall pick in next year's draft.
Ties in the draft order are broken by strength of schedule, with the lowest number picking the highest in any tied segment. And for the seventh and eighth spot, that came down to the final game of the year.
Since the Jets played the Vikings this year, and the Vikings lost Sunday night, that bumped New York's strength of schedule number lower than the Panthers' strength of schedule.
The Titans will pick first, followed by the Browns second, the Giants third, the Patriots fourth, the Jaguars fifth, with the Raiders sixth, and the Jets seventh.
After the Panthers pick eighth, they'll be followed by the Saints in the ninth spot and the Bears in the 10th.
The eighth spot has been good to the Panthers in the past, as they've chosen there four times previously.
That's where they found cornerback Jaycee Horn in 2021, running back Christian McCaffrey in 2017, Hall of Honor left tackle Jordan Gross in 2003, and running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka in 1996.
Gross went to three Pro Bowls during his 11 year career. Horn (2024) and McCaffrey (2019) had one each as Panthers.
The Panthers have nine total selections and eight in the first five rounds.
