The Panthers are trying to repeat as NFC South champions, and their 2026 draft class can help both now and into the future—but the haul using the Wolf Sports big board would have looked different.

 

Actual selections

1.19: OT Monroe Freeling

2.49: DL Lee Hunter

3.83: WR Chris Brazzell II

4.129: CB Will Lee III

5.144: C Sam Hecht

5.151: S Zakee Wheatley

7.227: LB Jackson Kuwatch

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.19: CB D’Angelo Ponds

2.49: LB CJ Allen

3.83: WR Chris Brazzell II

4.129: G DJ Campbell

5.144: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

5.151: DL Zane Durant

7.227: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

 

Thoughts

Offensive tackle wasn’t an immediate need for Carolina after signing Rasheed Walker at a bargain rate in free agency, but Monroe Freeling was our top offensive lineman and No. 6 overall prospect in the class—and landing in a spot where he won’t be pressed to immediately start is probably the best thing for him. Cornerback is also set right now with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on the perimeter, but the thinking is similar with D’Angelo Ponds simply being too good to pass on for us; he would have been able to push Chau Smith-Wade (who we are high on) for a role in the slot to begin his career, and it doesn’t hurt to have depth at a key position.

 

On Day 2, the Panthers bolstered the trenches on defense with Lee Hunter in the second round, while we were extremely high on CJ Allen at that spot—high enough that it’s another situation where a player we like (Trevin Wallace) is pushed down the depth chart (though three off-ball linebackers rotating in a 3-4 front has worked for teams in the past).

 

With the third-round pick, the Panthers and our board were in alignment with Chris Brazzell II—adding serious juice to the passing attack and another big body to join Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. Another thing to keep in mind is that Bryce Young had plenty of success throwing to a speedster in Jameson Williams when they were together at Alabama, so it’s another element that will be added to the offense this season.

 

For the Day 3 selections, Carolina added another cornerback with size by taking Will Lee III in the fourth round, acquired a potential starter at center with Sam Hecht in the fifth round along with an outstanding value in the aggressive Zakee Wheatley, and took linebacker Jackson Kuwatch in the seventh round. We would have gone with familiar names for most teams with DJ Campbell in the fourth, Harold Perkins Jr. and Zane Durant in the fifth, and a developmental tight end in the seventh round with John Michael Gyllenborg.

 

The success for Carolina could very well come down to whether their first three selections pan out, as—for as much as we liked the first and third-round choices in particular—all three of Freeling, Hunter, and Brazzell do carry decent risk.