CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five things to know about the Carolina Panthers and the 2016 NFL draft, which runs Thursday through Saturday:

Picks: Carolina has six picks beginning with the 30th overall, which is expected to come sometime between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 will begin on Friday at 7 p.m., with the Panthers holding picks No. 62 and 93. Rounds 4-7 will be held on Saturday, beginning at noon. Carolina has picks 129 (fourth round), 168 (fifth) and 252 (seventh). Their sixth-round pick was traded to Chicago last season in exchange for defensive end Jared Allen.

Needs: Cornerback is the biggest need after Carolina rescinded the franchise tag of Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman, so look for at least one to be added in the draft. It seems unlikely one will be taken in the first round based on general manager Dave Gettleman’s draft history, but that could change if the right player falls. Ohio State’s Eli Apple or Houston’s William Jackson III could be enticing. Defensive end, offensive line and safety also are needs, but as Gettleman has said repeatedly he doesn’t draft on need.

First-round projection: Gettleman loves his big men. He calls them “hog mollies." So don’t be surprised if he goes with a defensive end or defensive tackle. Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd was my projection in the NFL Nation mock draft, but the Panthers just as easily could go with Oklahoma State end Emmanuel Ogbah or one of the top tackles still available. Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche, Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler or Baylor’s Andrew Billings could be options.

Odds of a trade: Gettleman has made three trades during his first three drafts, but none involving a first-round pick. He likes having the fifth-year option that comes with that pick. Having said that, with only six picks Gettleman could be tempted to trade out of the first round if he could add a second- and possibly third-round pick. It’ll depend on who’s on the board when it gets to 30, but there could be several teams -- Cleveland one -- that might be looking to trade into the first round for a quarterback.

Wild-card thought: It might be tempting for the Panthers to select Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry out of Alabama or Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry in the first round. Neither likely will be there when Carolina selects in the second round. Both would give quarterback Cam Newton more weapons. That the draft is deep in defensive ends and tackles means a decent one could be there in the second round.