Reporter shares inside look at Panthers' 1st-round plans from 2026 draft

[ASFN Admin]

Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers were expected to grab one of two Oregon prospects with the 19th overall pick. The consensus pointed towards either tight end Kenyon Sadiq or safety Dillon Thieneman.

The Panthers, however, upended our expectations in Round 1 again, electing to go with Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling instead.

So, were they actually in on either of the Ducks?

As it turns out, there was some fire behind that smoke. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the Panthers were eyeing Thieneman—but with offensive tackle as the priority:

The Panthers were more interested in Thieneman than tight end Kenyon Sadiq, his Oregon teammate, who was also a popular pick for Carolina at 19 in mock drafts. The priority was offensive tackle, with Freeling and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor... the most realistic targets. The Panthers liked both players, although Freeling’s athleticism and upside seemingly gave him an edge over Proctor, who will begin his Dolphins’ career as a guard.

Proctor wound up coming off the board before Freeling, landing with the Miami Dolphins at No. 12 overall. He's projected to begin as a guard.

Freeling has more than enough size and athleticism to play tackle at the pro level, though. General manager Dan Morgan told reporters earlier this past week that Freeling will compete with free-agent pickup Rasheed Walker for the starting left tackle spot, as Ikem Ekwonu continues his recovery from a torn patellar tendon.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers reportedly eyed multiple OL in Round 1

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