Crixtala

Dan Morgan has always said that he wants to hit free agency hard so that they can take BPA in the draft. my latest mock hasn't changed much, but there was much less reaching to fill holes i haven't looked at Dunker much in this draft cycle, but he was right there at 83. if this FA period allowed us to re-stack the OL, allowing us to shift some money to other areas of the roster in the next couple years, that would be amazing

I've been mocking drafts assuming we'd answer the edge question via free agency today made this mock even easier, love this top to bottom

all the trades and using PFFs draft rankings and Gemini's analysis: This is a high-value mock draft that effectively uses trade-down strategies to rebuild the Carolina Panthers' defensive interior and add depth to a roster with multiple holes. By turning mid-round capital into a volume of picks, you've secured several "sliding" stars and developmental high-ceiling players. Based on 2026 PFF big board trends and player value, here is the analysis: Draft Grade: A- The Top Picks: Interior Dominance * 19. Peter Woods (DT, Clemson): Getting Woods at 19 is a steal. Heading into the 2025 season, he was viewed as a potential top-5 talent. While his production dipped slightly, his 4.75 40-yard dash at 315 lbs is elite. He provides the Panthers with a versatile disruptor who can play 3-tech or slide outside. * 63. Dontay Corleone (DT, Cincinnati): "The Godfather" is one of the best pure nose tackles in the class. Pairing him with Woods creates an immediate identity for the Panthers' front seven. PFF loves his "unmovable" anchor. Securing him at the end of Round 2 after trading down from 51/53 is excellent value. The Mid-Round Steals * 83. Deontae Lawson (LB, Alabama): Lawson is a high-IQ "green dot" linebacker. Many scouts projected him as a late 1st or early 2nd rounder before an ACL injury in late 2024. Getting a 2-time Alabama captain at 83 to lead the defense is a massive win for culture and stability. * 130. Drew Allar (QB, Penn State): This is the "high-upside lottery ticket" pick. Allar has prototypical size (6'5", 240 lbs) and a massive arm. His stock fell due to a 2025 ankle injury and inconsistency, but at 130, he’s a low-risk, high-reward backup/successor to Bryce Young if the former No. 1 pick continues to struggle. Trade Analysis & Late Round Value Your strategy of "tier-dropping" (trading 51 for 53/121 and 53 for 63/95) allowed you to stay in the same talent bracket while picking up Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR) and Genesis Smith (S). * 168. Parker Brailsford (OC, Alabama): Great value for a technical center who can compete for a depth spot. * 169. Tacario Davis (CB, Washington): At 6'4", he is a rare physical specimen at corner. PFF and other boards often have him as a Day 2 talent; getting him in the 5th round (via the 161 trade) is arguably your best value pick of the draft. Summary of Picks | Pick | Player | Position | School | Analysis | | 19 | Peter Woods | DT | Clemson | Elite traits; Top-10 ceiling. | | 63 | Dontay Corleone | DT | Cincinnati | Best run stuffer in the class. | | 83 | Deontae Lawson | LB | Alabama | Vocal leader; sliding due to injury. | | 121 | Kevin Coleman Jr. | WR | Missouri | Speed threat to complement the room. | | 130 | Drew Allar | QB | Penn State | High-ceiling developmental passer. | | 169 | Tacario Davis | CB | Washington | Massive reach/length for a late flyer. | Final Verdict You addressed the trenches aggressively and took advantage of "injury discounts" on Lawson and Allar. The only minor critique is that the roster still feels thin at Edge (until the 211 pick), but the sheer volume of talent added to the interior DL and Secondary compensates for it.

I'd be ok with those first two picks, especially if Dan pulls a rabbit out of his hat again and trades XL for way more than he's worth With the way things are falling today (and I always feel like pre-draft information is better at the end of the season then at draft time), off ball LB and edge help may need to come from FA

Too early? Who cares. Brailsford and Barton are guys I was interested in last year before returning to college for another season.

quality edit, as always bp. thanks for sharing

This may be my favorite to date took an offered trade back, planning to snag Jalon Walker, but with Graham still there, I'd much prefer that pick I'm high on Starks in the 1st too, since the safety room could be decimated, but if they can squeeze back in the range to snag Emmanwori, easy pick Deone Walker is my preferred NT. Really hope we grab a big body from somewhere that can take Tuttle's starting gig Kennard will need time, but should have the tools to be a good edge in a few years. Coming out of SC probably doesn't hurt since Panthers generally value locals to talent We're all drafting Skattebo, which probably means he's going much earlier than he's generally being mocked Jared Wilson has also been my preferred C. Let Corbett walk, run with Mays and the rookie TE, CB and WR depth to round out the draft If TE RJ Maryland from SMU goes undrafted, snag that dude

Two recent mocks I've done and liked.

Starks is not getting enough attention here. Edges, unless freaks, are not usually day 1 starters, and the safety position has the possibility to be even more thin than edge. Starks could be there at 8 and would probably start immediately.

i do too, just not sure what anybodys gonna be trading up for at that point. we'll see

he's mocking in a tough spot for us, right now anyway

still assuming they're running a similar 3-4 to what they run today

stackhouse looks like a great, late NT option, but no DL help until the 5th would be a hard pill to swallow. we would have to have an absolute stunning off-season and FA period to make that feel alright

not as D heavy as most (including myself) would probably like to see, but right now... I'd be pretty happy with this

gotta figure out what's happening with the defense this off-season. evero staying? 3-4 staying? those are important questions that nobody on this board has an answer for yet, and that needs to be answered before we can really start speculating (i realize i am saying this while actively running and posting mock drafts ) i think mason graham is a phenomenal athlete, but less of a NT than what i think we'd need if we're staying a 34 front. i think he makes sense if we're returning to a 4-3, but that's a MASSIVE if regardless of how much the fandom thinks it should come back and will fix all of our woes i also love deone walker, and my argument is basically the exact opposite of the above. 34, let's go... clogs the middle, let's the LBs play more freely and we could use an upgrade over tuttle. 43? he could still be fit in, but it's probably not the greatest of fits this is basically just the bpa argument. if you're just taking the best athlete, system be damned, you end up with jeremy chinn who never finds a role on the roster, wastes his rookie contract and then we wave goodbye and watch them get picked up by a system who can actually use them properly