With the Panthers set to start rookie minicamp tomorrow, the team has signed a handful of their draft picks. The team announced the signing of six rookies today, including first-round offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.
The Panthers reportedly entered the primary round with a “tackle or bust” mentality, they usually landed certainly one of the draft’s top positional prospects in Freeling. The Georgia product exclusively played left tackle during his collegiate profession, including a 2025 campaign where he earned second-team All-SEC honors. Freeling possesses the length and athleticism that teams seek from their LTs, although scouts did note that he needs so as to add some weight to compete within the NFL.
The Freeling selection could also result in some interesting roster decisions for the franchise. The team is returning longtime RT Taylor Moton and continues to be rostering LT Ikem Ekwonu on a fifth-year option. Ekwonu is about to miss the start of the 2026 season, however the team seemingly filled that temporary hole by signing Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal value just $4MM. Depth isn’t a foul thing, but it can be interesting to see how the OL ultimately shakes out, and the team’s surplus of OTs could potentially result in some moves.
The team’s other signings today included:
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH))
This leaves the Panthers with just one unsigned draft pick: second-round DT Lee Hunter. While it’s notable that the Texas Tech product wasn’t included among the many team’s other signings, there’s a probability he quickly inks his deal to be in attendance for tomorrow’s minicamp.