‘I was glad they did it’ — Panthers GM Dan Morgan explains which team nearly shook up Carolina’s draft and how things worked out
The Carolina Panthers were thrilled to land offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft but were closely watching one team that could have ruined all of their opening night plans.
After all of the speculation about adding a top pass catcher or defensive back with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers ended up throwing a curveball when the team selected offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.
In hindsight, it was a great decision by general manager Dan Morgan. Tackles of Freeling’s caliber given his age and athleticism don’t grow on trees. Drafting him gives Carolina a promising player to eventually develop into a long-term starter at a premium position.
However, one team nearly derailed the team’s plans in the first-round of the draft before things ended up working out perfectly.
Detroit Lions nearly had the Carolina Panthers sweating during the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft
Sitting with the 19th overall pick, the Panthers knew multiple OT-needy teams would be picking ahead of them. The run started when the Cleveland Browns drafted Spencer Fano ninth overall after trading back. Within the next three picks, two more came off the board in Francis Mauigoa (NYJ) and Kadyn Proctor (MIA).
The team the Panthers were watching closely was the Detroit Lions with the 17th overall pick. Carolina even attempted to move up with the Lions to prevent Detroit from stealing Freeling off the board. Instead, Detroit landed on Clemson right tackle Blake Miller with the idea that their stud right tackle Penei Sewell would kick back over to left tackle to replace Taylor Decker.
“I thought they were going to take him (Freeling), but I also understand why they took the guy they took too (Miller),” Morgan said of the Lions. “Because he’s a true right tackle and started a ton of games at right tackle, and they’re moving their guy to left tackle. So when they picked Miller, I wasn’t surprised. But yeah, I was glad they did it.”
With the 18th overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings selected defensive tackle Caleb Banks, officially setting Freeling up on the board for the Panthers.
“I’ve maybe gotten that outcome once or twice. Maybe,” Morgan said of landing Freeling and second-round DT Lee Hunter in the same draft. “But in my mind, there’s no way that’s going to happen.”
The Panthers, of course, did plan for contingencies in the first-round if another team poached Freeling off the board before they were on the clock.
“I felt calm about it because there were other guys that if he did get taken, I knew that we could turn the card in and feel really good about,” Morgan added. “There was always a backup plan if that scenario happened, so from my seat, I was pretty calm about it.”
Things ended up working out in Carolina’s favor, something that continued throughout the rest of the weekend when Morgan landed even more value selections. The NFL Draft is always a volatile process and sometimes the cards work out exactly in your favor.