Rookies

• Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia: after barking for a build from the front draft approach for years, we finally did it. Freeling will be steady and consistent, if not great.

• Round 2, No. 49: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech: like what I have seen of him, our DT rotation should be pretty stout against the run.

• Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee: despite his slight build, opposite T-Mac, he should be productive with some favorable matchups. 15 pounds wouldn't hurt.

• Round 4, No. 129: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M: don't know much about him, but A&M DBs are usually solid.

• Round 5, No. 144: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State: Love this pick! Excellent value for a 5th

• Round 5, No. 151: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State: initial ST Ace, that could be a starter in a year or two.

• Round 7, No. 227: Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami: only saw a little of him, but he looks like a steady performer. Always seemed to be right or making up for a DL being wrong.

 

Carolina Panthers 2026 undrafted free agents

• QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech: LOVE this sign! Yes, he's a Tasom Hill-type, but with more upside.

• DT Aaron Hall, Duke: one of few guys that didn't transfer all over the country.

• DB Jaylon Guilbreau, Texas: STer with potential

• CB DeVonta Smith, Notre Dame: played well at times... disappeared at times.

• EDGE Isaiah Smith, SMU: he stood out to me in one game (don't recall which one).

• WR Malick Meiga, Coastal Carolina: I literally know NOTHING about the cat

• CB Cam Miller, Rutgers: with time to develop, we could have something here?

• WR Kobe Prentice, Baylor: Again, don't know enough to comment.

• OL Isaia Glass, Vanderbilt: while I don't recall him specifically...I was impressed with Vandy's entire online as a group.

 

If we had enjoyed a winning season last year, I would honestly be a little annoyed about the draft because none of these picks are going to move the needle in 2026. But this was definitely about continuing to build the foundation.

• Monroe Freeling is going to sit this year unless Wallace gets injured. After a year in an NFL strength program, I expect him to be our Left Tackle in 2027. If Ickey makes a full recovery, he's either going to go to the right side or move inside to Guard as Damien Lewis' heir apparent.
• Hunter Lee will not start this year, but will be in the rotation. I think he ends up as our 0-Tech of the future, with Cam Jackson backing him up. I think he will already be better at the Nose than A'Shawn Robinson.
• Chris Brazzell has all the tools to contribute even as a rookie, but his very presence will likely mean that one of him, XL, or Metchie steps up and seizes the WR3 role. Bryce is going to have three reliable targets, four if Jonathan Brooks actually stays healthy.
• Will Lee III already looks like a Mike Jackson clone. He won't do much this year, but I expect to see him outside in 2027. MJ is 29, and probably has just a couple of years left.
• Sam Hecht will be like Freeling, but without as high a ceiling. Still, after a year in an NFL strength program he should be our starting center in 2027. We will be seeing Freeling and Hecht on our depth chart for the next decade.
• Zakee Wheatley has the range to make fans clamor for more playing time for him, but I think he effectively sits for a year behind Scott. He's a great complement to both Moehrig and Ransom. I can't believe I am saying this, but I trust Evero and Renaldo Hill to coach him up into a starting quality NFL Free Safety.
• Jackson Kuwatch is going to disappear, and will either make his living on Special Teams or he will end up on the Practice Squad. This one feels like Dan Morgan's version of Thomas Fletcher.

So this draft was all BPA, but it was also all prospects and no immediate starters. Given our Free Agency, I'm ok with that.

 

I think all these guys will make the squad plus Haynes King.

Really, really good draft for Morgan. Scouting team did an excellent job

 

like all the times we re signed Ian Thomas

 

Hard to appreciate how good this draft was without looking what Morgan did in free agency

Jaelan Phillips, LB/Edge

Devin Lloyd, LB

Kenny Pickett, QB

Will Grier, QB

Luke Fortner, C

Stone Forsythe, OT

Rasheed Walker, LT

John Metchie III, WR (played at Bama w Young)

AJ Dillon, RB

Plus Jonathon Brooks says he's 100%

 

ah the classic getting a player back from injury is just like a new signing. before they get hurt again. We need to stop falling for it. Morgans scrambled brain was treated the exact same way until they drafted Beason.