These 2 teams were trying to trade up to Panthers' 1st-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers weren't looking to do something stupid on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft.

>That was the sentiment from executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis, who was among the stars from the latest edition of Panthers Blueprint. Tuesday's episode gave us a behind-the-scenes look into the organization's deliberations leading up to and through this year's selection process.

>Carolina, with the 19th overall pick of the first round, ultimately landed on Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling—one of, if not the primary target of the front office. And according to Tilis, it would've taken a "stupid" offer from another team to move the Panthers off their spot.

>Well, it seems as though the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles would've had to entertain the prospect of being "stupid."

>Take a look . . .

>

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As Tilis and general manager Dan Morgan pointed out, Houston's original position at 28th overall would've been too far of a leap back. The Texans did, however, find a trade partner in the Buffalo Bills—and nabbed their own offensive lineman, Georgia tech guard Keylan Rutledge, at No. 26.

>Philly would take a similar path after failing to reach a deal with Carolina. The Eagles, in a rare intra-divisional swap with the Dallas Cowboys, hopped up from No. 23 to No. 20 for Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon.

>So, luckily for all involved, everyone's wits seemed to remain intact.

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>This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Eagles, Texans called Panthers to trade for 19th pick