The Athletic\u2019s recent beat writer mock draft<\/a>. Only problem: Freeling went to the Cleveland Browns at No. 3, 13 spots ahead of the Panthers\u2019 pick. If that\u2019s 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\u2019 addition of Walker means Freeling would have the benefit of a redshirt year if needed.<\/p>\nS Dillon Thieneman, Oregon<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 23<\/p>\n
The Panthers would like to find an athletic, rangy safety to patrol the back end of Ejiro Evero\u2019s defense while Tre\u2019von 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\u2019s stock soared after an impressive combine, highlighted by a 4.35-second 40 that was the fourth fastest among safeties.<\/p>\n
OT Caleb Lomu, Utah<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 30<\/p>\n
Lomu is the lower-rated prospect among the Utes\u2019 two tackles, despite playing on the left side and not allowing a sack last season. The issue isn\u2019t Lomu\u2019s size or footwork. What\u2019s held him back has been questionable strength, which a couple of NFL offseasons should take care of.<\/p>\n
Second-day targets<\/p>\n
(The Panthers have picks 51 and 83 on Day 2.)<\/p>\n
WR K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 22<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 31<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
LB C.J. Allen, Georgia<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 32<\/p>\n
My sense is the Panthers have other LBs higher on their board. But Allen\u2019s three-down skills (he had 3.5 sacks last year) merit serious consideration.<\/p>\n
DT Christen Miller, Georgia<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 37<\/p>\n
The Panthers cut a big run-stuffing defensive tackle when they released A\u2019Shawn Robinson in a cap-clearing move. Miller\u2019s length (6-4, 321) and power could make him an important part of Carolina\u2019s interior rotation.<\/p>\n
Edge Zion Young, Missouri<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 39<\/p>\n
The second day was Morgan\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n
CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 41<\/p>\n
You might have heard: The Panthers love drafting South Carolina players and did OK the last time they took a Gamecocks corner.<\/p>\n
OT Blake Miller, Clemson<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 42<\/p>\n
You might have heard: The Panthers don\u2019t like drafting Clemson players, and it doesn\u2019t help Miller was a right tackle for the Tigers. But Gilbert ran the offensive line drills at Clemson\u2019s pro day; make of that what you will.<\/p>\n
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 44<\/p>\n
The Nigerian-born Iheanachor was a basketball and soccer player as a teenager in Los Angeles and didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 47<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 48<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 50<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 56<\/p>\n
Morgan was in Austin this week for Hill\u2019s pro day, and the former linebacker likely left dreaming about what a linebacker duo of Devin Lloyd and Hill would mean for Evero\u2019s defense. With 17 career sacks and eight forced fumbles, Hill made an impact every week for the Longhorns.<\/p>\n
![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_27300589-scaled.jpg\")
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\n In three seasons at Texas, Anthony Hill Jr. piled up 31.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. (Jerome Miron \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
S AJ Haulcy, LSU<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 58<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s a better nickname than Haulcy\u2019s \u201cMr. Give Me That\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 64<\/p>\n
The 6-1, 231-pound Rodriguez was both the quarterback of the Red Raiders\u2019 defense and a disruptive force, finishing his career with 19 forced turnovers. If the Panthers don\u2019t land Hill, Rodriguez would be a good fallback plan.<\/p>\n
Edge Keyron Crawford, Auburn<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 67<\/p>\n
Crawford was more productive last season than Faulk, Auburn\u2019s more highly touted pass rusher. The 6-4, 253-pound Crawford didn\u2019t play football until his senior year of high school, but his explosiveness is real.<\/p>\n
DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 71<\/p>\n
OK, \u201cMr. Give Me That\u201d has some competition. The \u201cBig Citrus,\u201d at 6-4 and 325 pounds, didn\u2019t get squeezed off the line very often in Ames.<\/p>\n
WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 74<\/p>\n
True, the 5-9, 164-pound Thompson would present a small target for Young. But he also would give the Panthers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 75<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
C Jake Slaughter, Florida<\/p>\n
Brugler\u2019s ranking: 83<\/p>\n
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\u2019s room for a plug-and-play center like Slaughter, who started more than 30 games over five seasons with the Gators.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2014 The NFL has transitioned from free agency to pre-draft season. Prospects are scheduling top-30 visits.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524629,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[462],"tags":[4443,5,4,465,466],"class_list":{"0":"post-524628","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl-draft","8":"tag-carolina-panthers","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-nhl","11":"tag-nhl-draft","12":"tag-nhl-entry-draft"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116297966777341065","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=524628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524628\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/524629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=524628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=524628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=524628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Alabama](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_27972728-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n