Charlie Campbell
Panthers Rookie Forecast 2026
Solid Starter
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia – Round 1 
The Panthers set their long-term plan at left tackle with the selection of Freeling in the first round. Veteran Rasheed Walker was signed from Green Bay in free agency, with Ikem Ekwonu coming off an injury. Even if Ekwonu is part of the long-term plans, veteran right tackle Taylor Moton is aging, and Freeling could be his replacement to pair with Ekwonu in the long term.
For the NFL, Freeling is an athletic edge protector who has a natural skill set to protect the quarterback. What stands out about Freeling the most is his quickness and athleticism. Freeling is light on his feet to swiftly get depth in his drop to neutralize speed rushers around the corner. With his agility and smooth movement, Freeling is adept at cutting off the corner from speed rushers. Freeling tangles up defenders well with his length and blocks through the whistle. Freeling could stand to improve his technique as he will lunge after defenders rather than moving his feet at times. His hand placement is inconsistent, and he could get better at handling moves to the inside. Freeling showed improvement throughout the 2026 season as he gained experience, so the upside is there for him to develop.
In the ground game, Freeling is impressive in space. He is very quick and agile to get out to the perimeter for blocks on stretch runs or screens. Freeling is also fast firing to the second level and hitting blocks in space. While Freeling is not overpowering at the point of attack against defensive linemen, he can tie up and scrap defenders to keep them from getting to the ball carrier. Freeling will look to punish and pancake defenders at the second level, as a number of linebackers and defensive backs took some punishment from him downfield. He blocks hard through the whistle and is a real fighter.
With the veterans the Panthers have in place, Carolina can take their time developing Freeling. Entering the NFL after only starting one season in college football, Freeling could use some coaching and refinement. In the short term, he can learn a lot from Moton and Walker, without being thrown into the fire. If Freeling develops well, he should be a solid starter for Carolina by the end of his rookie contract.
2025: Nic Scourton, DE
2024: Jonathon Brooks, RB
2023: Jonathan Mingo, WR
2022: Ikem Ekownu, OT
2021: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR
2020: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE
2019: Brian Burns, DE
2018: D.J. Moore, WR
2017: Curtis Samuel, WR
2016: Daryl Worley, CB
2015: Shaq Thompson, LB
2014: Trai Turner, G
2013: Kawann Short, DT
Most Likely To Bust
Chris Brazzell II, TE, Tennessee – Round 3
The Panthers have put a lot of resources into the wide receiver position with back-to-back first-round picks in 2024 and 2025. Carolina continued to invest in weapons for Bryce Young with the selection of Brazzell in the third round. There is no doubt that Brazzell is talented, as he is tall, fast, and athletic. However, teams had significant character concerns with Brazzell, and that pushed him out of the top two rounds even though his talent level would place him in the top 64. Brazzell may not have the football character needed to work hard and be patient for his opportunity. Of the Panthers’ early-round picks, Brazzell has the most bust potential.
2025: Princely Umanmielen, DE
2024: Trevin Wallace, LB
2023: D.J. Johnson, OLB
2022: Matt Corral, QB
2021: Brady Christensen, OT
2020: Jeremy Chinn, S
2019: Will Grier, QB
2018: Rashaan Gaulden, CB
2017: Daeshon Hall, DE
2016: James Bradberry, DB
2015: Devin Funchess, WR
2014: Kelvin Benjamin, WR
2013: Edmund Kugbila, G
Potential Boom Pick
Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech – Round 1 
The Panthers have enjoyed having one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL with the excellent Derrick Brown. Brown kept the tradition alive set by Kawann Short and Kris Jenkins, and Hunter could maintain that interior disruptive presence for many years to come. Hunter was an underrated prospect who easily could have been selected in the first round.
In the ground game, Hunter is a tough defender. He is very stout at the point of attack. When runs come downhill at him, he is able to anchor and hold his ground. He also shows the strength to shed and tackle. Routinely, Hunter pushes his way into the backfield to disrupt runs and resets the line of scrimmage. His lateral anchor is advanced for a college player, as he is tough to move at the point of attack. Hunter is very strong to take on double-team bump blocks and hold his ground when getting hit from the side. Hunter is a very good run defender entering the NFL.
As a pass rusher, Hunter has some ability to get a push into the backfield with his power. Hunter can seriously bull rush to help collapse the pocket and take away space to step up in the pocket. He is limited from a speed and athleticism perspective to be a dangerous pass rusher that firest a gap and darts past guards in the NFL. As a pro, he could be rotated out of the game for a significant amount of sub-package plays. If Hunter had more pass-rush ability, he would have been a definite first-round pick.
Hunter landed in a great situation as Brown will get the focus of offensive lines, so Hunter should have single-block opportunities. He can also learn a lot from Brown, and that is an ideal mentor for Hunter, given their similar body types and skill sets. It would not surprise me if Hunter turns into a boom pick for Carolina.
2025: Tet McMillan, QB
2024: Xavier Legette, WR
2023: Bryce Young, QB
2022: None
2021: Jaycee Horn, CB
2020: Derrick Brown, DT
2019: Greg Little, OT
2018: Donte Jackson, CB
2017: Christian McCaffrey, RB
2016: Vernon Butler, DT
2015: Darryl Williams, OL
2014: Kony Ealy, DE
2013: Star Lotulelei, DT
Future Depth Player
Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M – Round 4 
The Panthers landed a nice value pick with Lee in the fourth round. Lee has a good skill set with size, speed, and athleticism. He also had some good tape from his final season with the Aggies, but Lee does have some raw elements of his game that need to be ironed out for the NFL. However, the skill set is there for him to become a starter. Even if Lee doesn’t turn into a starting outside cornerback, he could be a solid backup who is a core contributor on special teams. Lee looks like a solid depth pick with upside for Carolina.
2025: Trevor Etienne, RB
2024: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
2023: Jammie Robinson, DB
2022: Brandon Smith, LB
2021: Chuba Hubbard, RB
2020: Stantley Thomas-Oliver, CB
2019: Christian Miller, LB
2018: Ian Thomas, TE
2017: Corn Elder, CB
2016: Zach Sanchez, CB
2015: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB
2014: Tre Boston, S
2013: Kenjon Barner, RB
Walt
