Carolina Panthers 7-Round Mock Draft 1.0: Fortifying the Trenches
Draft season is in full swing and with free agency right around the corner, now is a good time for our first Panthers Mock Draft
The Carolina Panthers made some clear progress throughout the 2025 season, but there are still many improvements to be made. The hardest part about making the playoffs as a sub-500 football team is staving off regression.
It appears the Panthers braintrust knows that. All signals from the front office indicate that Carolina is going to be aggressive in their approach - and that’s not shocking considering Dan Morgan’s previous free agency strategy.
The Panthers have always signaled that 2026 was the year they wanted to make the leap. They arrived to the playoffs a year early, and this mock draft is designed to help keep them there.
19. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Panthers were rumored to be looking at offensive tackles in last year’s draft prior to selecting Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan. And while they clearly made a great pick, the team needs an offensive tackle now, much more than they did then.
OT Ickey Ekwonu sustained a long-term injury in the Panthers’ playoff game against the Rams, and is unlikely to play in the early part (or any of) the 2026 season.
Freeling has a massive frame, moves well as a run blocker in space, and graded out as one of the better pass protectors in college football last year. By all accounts, he’s a tremendous tackle prospect.
And he might not even be available.
Freeling is climbing up boards after a great showing at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month.
Alternate Picks: Spencer Fano (Utah OL), Peter Woods (Clemson DL), Caleb Banks (Florida DL)
51. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Josiah Trotter is an instinctive run-defending linebacker prospect who brings speed, processing, and blitzing prowess. He’s a prospect that I think general manager and former linebacker Dan Morgan will love.
Trotter struggles in certain passing-game matchups, but would fit well in a linebacker room that already has Trevin Wallace (who thrives as a passing-game defender) and presumably another starting linebacker in free agency. Trotter would have an immediate role as an early-down linebacker that could grow into becoming an every-down starter.
Trotter had 84 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks last year in the SEC and has an NFL bloodline: His father, Jeremiah Trotter, was a two-time All-Pro LB for the Philadelphia Eagles. His brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., is a current linebacker for the Eagles.
Alternate picks: Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt TE), R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma EDGE), D’Angelo Ponds (DB, Indiana)
83. Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
The Carolina Panthers need speed on offense. As things stand now, Carolina has one of the slowest skill position groups in the NFL (if not the slowest).
Brenen Thompson gets typecast as a speedy gadget player, but he brings much more to the table as a receiver. He’s as good as a down-the-field catcher and can provide much-needed juice on screens, slants, and sweeps.
The biggest missing component of the Carolina Panthers offense in the Dave Canales era has been the complete lack of a consistent downfield threat. Having a “field stretcher” opens up so much spacing for the offense underneath, and Thompson would be a great tertiary receiver without needing a ton of touches.
Oh, he was the fastest player at the combine, too.
Alternate picks: Zach Branch (Georgia WR), Taurean York (TAMU LB), Eli Raridon (Notre Dame TE)
119. Logan Jones, iOL, Iowa
The Carolina Panthers are likely to lose center Cade Mays in free agency, and while they could go the veteran route, this draft class has a ton of prospects who could become starting-level centers in the NFL.
Enter: Logan Jones, an athletic and agile center who played for an offensive lineman factory in Iowa.
Jones could be a fit for a Panthers team that, as Dan Morgan always says, wants to draft and develop their talent.
Ideally, Jones isn’t a week-one starter. He’s a player that could use some work as a pass protector and could struggle against bigger defensive tackles (like division rival Vita Vea.
But he can block in any run scheme and gets downfield, which Carolina loves in their interior offensive linemen.
157. Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
I get the impression that Dan Morgan wants to add competition to the backup quarterback room. Talen Green is one of the best athletes to play the position in a long time.
Last year at Arkansas, Talen Green totaled 27 total touchdowns (eight of these came from rushing). He’s a physically gifted player that I’m sure “quarterback whisperer” Dave Canales would like to develop in the film room.
The idea of Green is great in practice, but he’s going to need lots of refinement. If the Panthers select him, you can at least expect preseason to be worth watching, but I’d expect Carolina to roster three quarterbacks if Green were picked (probably a veteran that’s ahead of Green in the pecking order while he develops).
158. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Tacario Davis is one of those classic Seattle Seahawks corners that you probably know about. He’s lengthy, fast, and could use some development. Those first two traits are some that Carolina seeks for their roster.
Another thing the Panthers covet? Special teams. Consistently over the course of the past two draft cycles, general manager Dan Morgan has used his media availability to talk about the importance of special teams for day three prospects.
With the traits that Davis has, he’s likely to be a heavy special-teamer if he’s brought in by Carolina.
200. Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
The Carolina Panthers can save money this offseason by moving on from Tommy Tremble. And while Tremble brings value as a run blocker, I think that skill set can be replicated by a day three draft pick.
Sam Roush is one of the few players tight ends in this draft that brings a truly distinctive skill set as a run blocking tight end. It’s easy to project his role (which is a valuable one), and this type of selection can save Carolina money in an offseason where there’s not a lot of savings to be made.
234. Joshua Braun, iOL, Kentucky
Yep. Another offensive lineman. The Panthers are very overdue for investing in cost-controlled talent in the trenches.
Braun is a bigger guard prospect who plays with good pad level and has solid athletic traits. He’s a work in progress, but the size and athleticism will get him drafted on day three.
Full Draft Class
1.19 - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
2.51 - Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
3.83 - Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
4.119 - Logan Jones, iOL, Iowa
5.157 - Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
5.158 - Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
6.200 - Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
7.234 - Joshua Braun, iOL, Kentucky