Panthers Day 2 Mock Draft: Patience pays off for Dan Morgan by adding two more impact starters on both sides of the ball
The Carolina Panthers made a semi-shocking decision in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting OT Monroe Freeling and now have two more selections to work with on Day 2.
The Carolina Panthers had a surprise pick in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft when the team landed Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, a player general manager Dan Morgan said was easily the top option on their board.
While it was an initial surprise, Freeling finally gives the Panthers at least one long-term offensive tackle to build around for the future that happens to be a ridiculous athlete.
It was a bummer to see Carolina pass on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman and a top pass catcher like Makai Lemon. However, the team currently has two more selections to work with during the second and third-rounds on Day 2 of the draft.
Day 2 mock draft for the Carolina Panthers
Round 2, pick 51: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
There was a lot of late buzz surrounding Jacob Rodriguez’s name as a potential late first-round option. However, it’s not something that came to fruition on Thursday night. How far Rodriguez falls on Friday will be worth watching for the Panthers.
The team met with the nation’s top linebacker multiple times in the pre-draft process and I guarantee he has one of the top remaining grades on the team’s board going into Day 2. I could even see Morgan attempt to move up to land his guy. Rodriguez would be the perfect fit for this defense and be an immediate difference-maker for years to come playing beside free agent acquisition Devin Lloyd.
If he gets sniped early in the second-round, Arizona safety Treydan Stukes or Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II will be worth keeping an eye on.
Round 3, pick 83: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
This is where patience pays off for the Panthers and why it was key to meet with various wide receiver prospects projected in the first three rounds. Deion Burks’ name as quietly been linked to the Carolina Panthers throughout draft week and the third-round would be the ideal time to strike to add another weapon for quarterback Bryce Young.
He’s a dynamic play-maker out of the slot with 4.3 speed and a physical player despite his undersized frame. The Panthers need that kind of speed at the position and he would remind fans of another third-round wide receiver in Steve Smith Sr.
