Panthers have a draft plan. Is it what we think? Plus Eli Stowers joins show
By Alex Zietlow and
Mike Kaye
The Carolina Panthers have made it pretty clear that they are open to drafting a wide receiver or tight end in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
But is that their actual plan?
Or are they cooking up something else entirely?
This is merely one in a barrage of questions addressed by Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow in the latest episode of Processing Blue — an award-winning show that, this week, goes all-in on the draft.
The two also discuss how free agency set the Panthers front office for a first round in which the Panthers can’t really go wrong. They also break down Kaye’s latest mock draft and discuss who the Panthers shouldn’t take.
Eli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up prior to the game against the Georgia State Panthers at FirstBank Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Carly Mackler Getty Images
Most importantly: Kaye and Zietlow also welcome tight end prospect and second-round projected pick Eli Stowers to the show. Stowers opens up about how his background as a quarterback helped him as a pass-catcher, how helpful former Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews has been in his development, how good QB Diego Pavia really is, and 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.
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 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
Sports Pass is your ticket to Charlotte sports
#ReadLocal
Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month
