Panthers post-draft questions shift to answers as key starting offensive roles finally come into clearer focus for 2026
The Carolina Panthers still have some lingering questions on the offensive side of the ball after the 2026 NFL Draft despite seemingly finding some answers with the selections that were made.
The Carolina Panthers walked out of the 2026 NFL Draft this past weekend with more answers than questions after putting together another stellar class of impactful rookies under general manager Dan Morgan, which is always a good sign.
The questions that do remain coming out of the draft are good questions to have and mainly involve the offensive side of the ball. So, let’s break down some of the most pressing ones and explain why those are good problems for the Panthers to have.
Will Monroe Freeling start the 2026 season at left tackle?
The Panthers made a wise decision in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting a future offensive tackle in Monroe Freeling. He’s already the most athletic option on the entire roster and actually gives the team one long-term option for the future.
When it comes to run-blocking, Freeling is already well ahead of the curve but needs more development as a pass blocker before being able to take on the full-time responsibilities as Bryce Young’s blindside protector. While he’s a young and ascending player, he’s still inexperienced and might not be ready to be a Day 1 starter.
Fortunately, the Panthers were already prepared for this problem by signing Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal in free agency. Walker was an experienced starter for the Green Bay Packers the last few years and can man the position in 2026 for the Panthers while the team slowly brings Freeling along. And if Freeling catches on quickly, the Panthers can pivot and throw the rookie out there.
How will the starting WR core shake out after adding Chris Brazzell II to the room?
The Panthers had a homerun selection when the team drafted Tetairoa McMillan in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He immediately looked like a sure-fire No. 1 option for this team in route to an Offensive Rookie of the Year worthy season. Behind him, the Panthers entered the draft with Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and John Metchie III as the top options at wide receiver.
Enter Chris Brazzell II, an electrifying play-maker who has the tools to start opposite McMillan with Coker manning the slot. Not only is Brazzell a burner, he uses his size to his advantage and has soft hands. I’m not sure the Panthers can say the same about Legette, the team’s 2024 first-round, which makes it likely that Brazzell out-snaps and out-performs him this upcoming season.
“We’ve seen how we’ve been able to use Xavier, T-Mac, Jalen with all the intermediate stuff and it’s gotten us down the field a little bit,” head coach Dave Canales said. “But I think about the space created when they know this is a real burner and what that does to safeties, what that does to corners, just creating space for the whole group.”
Sam Hecht provides the Panthers with another starting-caliber rookie OL, will that be in 2026?
The same thing we said about the left tackle position with Freeling and Walker applies to the center position as well. After losing Austin Corbett and Cade Mays in free agency, the Panthers knew they needed to retool that position with multiple options.
In free agency, the Panthers signed Luke Fortner to a one-year deal, who brings 44 career starts under his belt. To add competition for 2026 and give the team a long-term option, the Panthers found fantastic value in Kansas State’s Sam Hecht in the fifth-round.
“He’s going to have the chance to compete,” general manager Dan Morgan said of Hecht. “What you see is his initial quickness; he’s good with angles, he can reach guys, and he’s good with his hands. He’s another guy who can work to the second level, get out in space as a puller. There are a lot of things that we like about him.”
Given that Fortner is making just $2.75 million in 2026, it’s worth questioning whether or not he will be the starter over Hecht. Hecht has promising athletic traits and was a reliable pass protector at Kansas State.
Is Jonathon Brooks ready to take on a primary role in the offense behind Chuba Hubbard?
The decision not to draft another running back this weekend, or add a top UDFA back, is an encouraging sign for how this staff feel about former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks and his recovery process coming off another significant knee injury.
“He’s flying around. He’s big, he’s beautiful looking,” Canales said of Brooks back in March. “The way that he’s progressed and went about his work. He’s one of the more powerful, explosive, athletes that we have. He’s going to have an opportunity to compete to start for this team, just like a lot of other guys.”
After letting Rico Dowdle walk in free agency, the Panthers have a sizable role in the run game for Brooks to snatch behind Chuba Hubbard. Adding his speed can be a gamechanger for this run game while AJ Dillon provides some heavy-hitting as well.
