CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NFL has transitioned from free agency to pre-draft season.
Prospects are scheduling top-30 visits. General managers and coaches are checking out pro days. (Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan was spotted at Texas on Tuesday, alongside ex-Panthers and Longhorns running back Fozzy Whittaker).
And in four weeks, Roger Goodell will be booed by Yinzers when the draft kicks off in Pittsburgh. Still, the pre-draft season is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, after our first Panthers big board focused on what Morgan might do in the first round, this second iteration expands to the second day of the draft, encompassing the first three rounds.
As the stamina and endurance grow, we’re building to a final big board that will span from the Panthers’ first pick at 19 to their final selection at 200. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
After checking off several boxes in free agency, Morgan created flexibility that will allow him to draft the best players available, although there are a few positions we think the Panthers will address. Let’s big board.
First-day targetsOL Spencer Fano, Utah
Ranking on Dane Brugler’s top 100 list: 8
Having signed Rasheed Walker to a one-year, $4 million deal, the Panthers don’t necessarily need a tackle. But with Ikem Ekwonu’s uncertain status for 2026 and Taylor Moton getting older, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to draft one, particularly one who can play both sides. Fano was a right tackle for the Utes, but after his arms miraculously grew between the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day, some teams could be eyeing him as a left tackle.
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Brugler’s ranking: 12
There’s no way the Panthers could draft a receiver in the first round for the third year in a row … right?? Don’t rule it out if the right one falls to them. Tyson’s injury history will scare some teams, but he’s a dynamic playmaker when healthy.
WR Makai Lemon, USC
Brugler’s ranking: 14
The 5-foot-11 Lemon doesn’t have Tyson’s size, but his ball skills are tremendous. The Panthers are looking for a receiver who can excel in the run game and gain yards after the catch. But that’s not really a strength for Lemon or Tyson.
Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Brugler’s ranking: 15
After he signed Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract and drafted a pair of Day 2 pass rushers last year, I’d be a little surprised if Morgan drafted an edge rusher in the first round. But Faulk’s size (6-6, 270) and athleticism are worth a long look, even if his college production was lacking.
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Brugler’s ranking: 17
Proctor was a consensus All-American his final season at Alabama, despite stretches of inconsistency — especially against edge rushers. With his 6-7, 352-pound frame, Proctor has the look of a franchise left tackle and could be the Panthers’ choice if they believe he can develop under offensive line coach Joe Gilbert.
Kadyn Proctor earned All-American honors last season at Alabama. (Reese Strickland / Imagn Images)
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Brugler’s ranking: 20
If the Panthers want to give Bryce Young his best chance to succeed in this all-important fourth season, they’ll sprint their draft card up if Sadiq is still available at 19. After waiting behind Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson with the Ducks, Sadiq caught eight TD passes in 2025 to lead all FBS tight ends. Then he went to the combine and ran the fastest 40 (4.39 seconds) by a tight end since at least 2003.
OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Brugler’s ranking: 21
I was all set to snag Freeling with the Panthers’ pick in The Athletic’s recent beat writer mock draft. Only problem: Freeling went to the Cleveland Browns at No. 3, 13 spots ahead of the Panthers’ pick. If that’s how the actual draft plays out, the Panthers will have missed out on a still-developing tackle with good size (6-7, 315) and athletic skills. After starting only 18 games in Athens, Freeling is still a little raw. But the Panthers’ addition of Walker means Freeling would have the benefit of a redshirt year if needed.
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Brugler’s ranking: 23
The Panthers would like to find an athletic, rangy safety to patrol the back end of Ejiro Evero’s defense while Tre’von Moehrig causes havoc in the box. Thieneman picked off six passes as a freshman at Purdue, then had two interceptions last year during his only season at Oregon. Thieneman’s stock soared after an impressive combine, highlighted by a 4.35-second 40 that was the fourth fastest among safeties.
OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Brugler’s ranking: 30
Lomu is the lower-rated prospect among the Utes’ two tackles, despite playing on the left side and not allowing a sack last season. The issue isn’t Lomu’s size or footwork. What’s held him back has been questionable strength, which a couple of NFL offseasons should take care of.
Second-day targets
(The Panthers have picks 51 and 83 on Day 2.)
WR K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M
Brugler’s ranking: 22
The Panthers could use a playmaking speed freak to complement Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. With 25 receiving TDs over three seasons at NC State and A&M and two punt return TDs for the Aggies last year, Concepcion certainly qualifies.
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Brugler’s ranking: 31
McNeil-Warren was a game wrecker in the box and in coverage over four seasons at Toledo, where he racked up nine forced fumbles and five interceptions, including one he took to the house as a senior.
LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Brugler’s ranking: 32
My sense is the Panthers have other LBs higher on their board. But Allen’s three-down skills (he had 3.5 sacks last year) merit serious consideration.
DT Christen Miller, Georgia
Brugler’s ranking: 37
The Panthers cut a big run-stuffing defensive tackle when they released A’Shawn Robinson in a cap-clearing move. Miller’s length (6-4, 321) and power could make him an important part of Carolina’s interior rotation.
Edge Zion Young, Missouri
Brugler’s ranking: 39
The second day was Morgan’s sweet spot for edge rushers last year. Could history repeat itself for a player who wrapped up his college career with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss as a senior?
CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Brugler’s ranking: 41
You might have heard: The Panthers love drafting South Carolina players and did OK the last time they took a Gamecocks corner.
OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Brugler’s ranking: 42
You might have heard: The Panthers don’t like drafting Clemson players, and it doesn’t help Miller was a right tackle for the Tigers. But Gilbert ran the offensive line drills at Clemson’s pro day; make of that what you will.
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Brugler’s ranking: 44
The Nigerian-born Iheanachor was a basketball and soccer player as a teenager in Los Angeles and didn’t play football until he got to college, but his athleticism and an NFL-ready frame (6-6, 330) make him one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft.
LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Brugler’s ranking: 47
Like Allen, Golday can make plays at all three levels of the defense, as evidenced by his 105 tackles and 3.5 sacks last fall.
TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Brugler’s ranking: 48
Stowers was a quarterback at Texas A&M and New Mexico State before transferring to Vandy, where his 769 receiving yards were more than any other FBS tight end in 2025.
CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
Brugler’s ranking: 50
Having worked in Seattle, Dave Canales and Morgan like big, aggressive corners. Igbinosun checks both boxes, but with 16 coverage penalties his last two seasons, he could stand to get less handsy.
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Brugler’s ranking: 56
Morgan was in Austin this week for Hill’s pro day, and the former linebacker likely left dreaming about what a linebacker duo of Devin Lloyd and Hill would mean for Evero’s defense. With 17 career sacks and eight forced fumbles, Hill made an impact every week for the Longhorns.
In three seasons at Texas, Anthony Hill Jr. piled up 31.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. (Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
S AJ Haulcy, LSU
Brugler’s ranking: 58
If there’s a better nickname than Haulcy’s “Mr. Give Me That” from high school, I want to hear about it. Haulcy continued taking the ball away in college, with 10 interceptions over four seasons at three schools.
LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Brugler’s ranking: 64
The 6-1, 231-pound Rodriguez was both the quarterback of the Red Raiders’ defense and a disruptive force, finishing his career with 19 forced turnovers. If the Panthers don’t land Hill, Rodriguez would be a good fallback plan.
Edge Keyron Crawford, Auburn
Brugler’s ranking: 67
Crawford was more productive last season than Faulk, Auburn’s more highly touted pass rusher. The 6-4, 253-pound Crawford didn’t play football until his senior year of high school, but his explosiveness is real.
DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Brugler’s ranking: 71
OK, “Mr. Give Me That” has some competition. The “Big Citrus,” at 6-4 and 325 pounds, didn’t get squeezed off the line very often in Ames.
WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Brugler’s ranking: 74
True, the 5-9, 164-pound Thompson would present a small target for Young. But he also would give the Panthers’ passing game a different look. Plus, he ran the fastest 40 time (4.26 seconds) at the combine and led the SEC with 1,054 receiving yards in 2025.
WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Brugler’s ranking: 75
Branch has a similar build (5-9, 177) as Thompson and is only a tick slower, with a 4.35-second clocking in the 40. He caught an SEC-leading 81 passes last year at Georgia, most of which were within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. But his two return TDs as a freshman at USC showed what Branch can do with the ball in his hands.
C Jake Slaughter, Florida
Brugler’s ranking: 83
The Panthers lost Cade Mays in free agency and only signed his replacement, Luke Fortner, to a one-year deal. Which is to say: There’s room for a plug-and-play center like Slaughter, who started more than 30 games over five seasons with the Gators.