Biggest Carolina Panthers Winners and Losers After the Draft

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes the ball in the fourth quarter Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Biggest Carolina Panthers Winners and Losers After the Draft

Originally posted on Carolina Panthers on SI
By Zach Roberts | Last updated May 7, 2026 9:00 AM ET

The Carolina Panthers did a good job reshaping their roster in the NFL draft. Naturally, some players came out in better shape than they were before now that they have help. Others, though, are in worse spots now than they were before.

Winner: Monroe Freeling

The Panthers weren't operating with a trio of superstar tackles on the roster, but one could argue that Rasheed Walker, Ikem Ekwonu, and Taylor Moton is the best trio any team has at the position. And Monroe Freeling gets to learn from all of them.

Moton is absolutely one of the best right tackles in the NFL. Both Ekwonu and Walker are solid, and they'll all help Freeling take the next step. He's still somewhat raw and inexperienced, but you could argue there was no better spot for him to land than here.

Loser: Bryce Young

The offense around Bryce Young is marginally better. Carolina added better protection, or at least better depth up front, as well as one decent weapon in Chris Brazzell. But the Panthers could have done a whole lot more.

They specifically passed on Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, and Justin Joly, all three of whom would've been big additions to the pass-catching department that still lacks juice. Brazzell will help, but even just one of those three (specifically Lemon) would've allowed Young to really elevate his game.

Winner: Derrick Brown

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Derrick Brown finally has a true running mate. As decent as A'Shawn Robinson and Bobby Brown had been in the middle, they weren't having the impact that Lee Hunter is going to. He's going to really open things up for Brown because offensive lines will have to think twice about doubling him.

The alternative here is that Hunter is also a huge winner. There are a handful of better defensive tackles than Brown, so if he does continue getting doubled, Hunter will have so many one-on-ones to take advantage of.

Loser: Xavier Legette

Xavier Legette probably breathed a sigh of relief when Monroe Freeling was drafted over Makai Lemon. He would've lost his WR3 spot on draft night. Instead, he gets to battle it out with Chris Brazzell, and that's not much better.

Brazzell is just Legette but one inch taller and a fraction faster. The Panthers seemed to replace Legette with Legette, which honestly may be more painful than had he lost his job to Lemon in round one.

Winner: Ejiro Evero

Ejiro Evero has a good defense under his tutelage now. Of course, free agency did a lot to help that, but the four selections made on defense will really help Evero out now and in the future. He has a lot more talent to work with.

Lee Hunter gives him another piece to use up front that will help his other D-linemen. Will Lee is valuable corner depth. Zakee Wheatley will probably be the new starting safety, so he's an upgrade. Even Jackson Kuwatch had a PFF grade over 82 last season, so he could be a weapon.

This article first appeared on Carolina Panthers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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