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NFL 2026 NFL Draft With left tackle Ikem Ekwonu sidelined with an injury, the Panthers could take a long look at Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sculpting a mock draft for the Carolina Panthers — and every other team — figures to get a little easier next week after the frenzy that is NFL free agency. As general managers plug holes and check off position needs, they could be revealing part of their draft strategy, at least in theory. But mock draft season waits for no one, which brings us to Panthers’ Mock 2. 0, post-combine edition. In this iteration, we took off the training wheels and allowed for trades, completing one and contemplating others. Advertisement We also made assumptions about what Panthers GM Dan Morgan will do next week, like spending big on an off-ball linebacker, adding a pass rusher and bringing in a new backup quarterback. But that didn’t stop us from doubling down at a couple of those spots. Enough of the preamble; let’s mock. Something about mock season always leads us back to the SEC. After taking Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor in this spot last month, we brushed up on our math and figured out that, while talented, Mesidor will be pushing 30 when it’s time for his second contract. That doesn’t seem like a Morgan move, despite having also starred at The U. Freeling, who turns 22 the first week of training camp, was viewed initially by some teams as a late-first-round prospect. But his stock has risen as scouts have gotten more of a look at the 6-7, 315-pounder with 33¾-inch arms. Freeling showed off his athleticism in Indianapolis, running a 40 in 4. 93 seconds with a 1. 72-second, 10-yard split. Freeling started only one full season at Georgia and is still developing. The Panthers could also sign a veteran such as Yosh Nijman to replace injured Ikem Ekwonu and help Freeling get ready to take over. The question is whether Freeling will be available at 19. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has him going to the Miami Dolphins at 11 in his two-round mock that dropped Wednesday. But at least one NFC talent personnel executive thinks Freeling could fall to the Panthers. In round two, we had Morgan making a trade with Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider, Morgan’s former boss in Seattle. The Panthers moved back from 51 to 56 (which Seattle had traded up for), while getting the Seahawks’ third-round pick (96) and giving up one of their fifths (158). The deal left Carolina with four selections in the top 100. Advertisement As mentioned above, don’t be surprised if the Panthers open their wallets next week for Devin Lloyd, Kaden Elliss or one of the other top free-agent linebackers. It’s a position that needs to be addressed with a big swing, if not more. And the second round feels like the sweet spot for playmaking, off-ball linebackers. In our initial mock, we went with Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. , a 6-3, 238-pounder with big upside as a blitzer. But while Hill’s coverage skills are still a work in progress, Rodriguez will arrive in the NFL as a three-down ‘backer who had four interceptions last year for the Red Raiders. The 6-1, 231-pound Rodriguez finished his career with 19 forced turnovers, so he knows how to be disruptive around the ball. Brugler, who also has Rodriguez going to Carolina in the second round, noted that Texas Tech coaches called him the “quarterback of the defense. ” That sounds like a former Panthers linebacker who will be receiving a gold jacket this summer. The Panthers haven’t taken an offensive lineman in two drafts with Morgan as GM. But he could draft two this year, depending on how Cade Mays’ free agency plays out and what the Panthers’ plan is to replace Mays if he signs elsewhere. Along with Auburn’s Connor Lew, Slaughter is considered one of the top centers in the draft. And the 6-5, 303-pounder appears poised to be a plug-and-play guy from Day 1, having started more than 30 games over five seasons in Gainesville. Slaughter is 83rd in Brugler’s rankings, so this was really the perfect spot for him. Slaughter graduated last spring with a degree in agricultural education and communication and was on the SEC’s academic honor roll his final four seasons. Just as importantly, Slaughter is said to have a high football IQ, critical at the center position. Advertisement This could be one of those classic cases of a team (or mock drafter) scouting one player from a Power 4 team and developing a draft crush on one of his teammates. Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk has been mocked to the Panthers by a couple of draft analysts, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6-6, 276-pound Faulk has impressive length and a high ceiling. But Crawford had more production than Faulk last season, finishing with more tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and passes defended than his more publicized teammate. Not bad for someone who didn’t start playing football until his senior year at his Memphis high school. True, the 6-4, 253-pound Crawford is a bit undersized. But his explosive first step, effort at all three levels and upside make him an excellent value pick late on the second day of the draft. The Panthers’ defense was improved last season, thanks in part to the return of defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2023. Brown finished with a career-high five sacks, tying Nic Scourton for the team lead. Still, the Panthers could use a pass-rushing interior lineman, especially with the team expected to trade or release A’Shawn Robinson in a cost-cutting move. Enter Mc Clellan, the Florida transfer whose six sacks last season were more than his total from the previous three seasons combined. The 6-4, 313-pound Mc Clellan looks the part with his 34-inch arms and 11-inch hands, among the largest of any player in the draft. Brugler believes Mc Clelland has the strength to handle the point of attack and push the pocket as a rusher, calling him “an underrated player who will be part of a rotation for a long time. ” Before digging in on Law, it’s worth mentioning that the Panthers drafting a receiver in the first round for the third year in a row isn’t out of the question, depending on how their board shakes out. Is it likely? Probably not, but worth keeping in mind. Advertisement The Panthers would like to diversify their receiving room with a speedy, shifty athlete who can make plays after the catch and in the run game. They took a flyer on one in the sixth round last year in former Colorado wideout Jimmy Horn, who had a couple of splash plays as a rookie. Maybe Morgan and Dave Canales try it again with another Day-3 receiver. If so, the 5-11, 203-pound Law is worth a look. He transferred to Kentucky in 2025 after three years at Alabama and led the Wildcats in receptions (53) and receiving yards (540), a good chunk of which came on yards after the catch on bubble screens and other quick-hitting throws. Law doesn’t have blinding speed (he ran a 4. 45-second 40 in Indy), but he has good hands and can break tackles in space. Plus, he returned kicks at Alabama and Kentucky, averaging 23 yards over the past three seasons. With Mike Jackson in the final year of his contract and nearing his 30s, it’s not too early to start thinking about a succession plan. Teams typically don’t find starting corners late in the third day. And even those who do develop often take time. Jackson, a fifth-round pick in 2019, didn’t become a starter until 2022 in Seattle, his fourth team in three years. All of which to say that realistic expectations are needed for anyone who would have appeared in this space, including Hall, who at least has the size (6-1, 189) the Panthers look for in their corners. Hall only had two interceptions for the Hawkeyes and isn’t a burner. But he led Iowa with 10 pass breakups last season and was a willing tackler, with a team-high eight tackles in their bowl win over Vanderbilt. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Joseph Person is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Carolina Panthers. He has covered the team since 2010, previously for the Charlotte Observer. A native of Williamsport, Pa. , Joe is a graduate of William & Mary, known for producing presidents and NFL head coaches. He was voted North Carolina's Sportswriter of the Year in 2022 by the National Sports Media Association. Follow Joseph on Twitter @josephperson