It's never too early to start thinking about next year's draft! The Carolina Panthers are certainly hoping they'll be picking at the end of the first round as they look to make the playoffs again in 2026.
No matter where the team ends up picking, there are a few positions they could be looking to add. If the 2026 season goes off the rails, it's not hard to imagine the team drafting a quarterback. The defensive line and edge rusher spots are other places the team could look to add.
However, a recent mock instead has the team taking a tackle in the first round once again. If that happens, the team could have some creative ideas for what to do with current left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
Latest Mock Suggests Drafting Tackle, Moving Ekwonu to Guard
(Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)
Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports recently published a 2027 mock. In said mock, Easterling has the Panthers selecting Iowa left tackle Trevor Lauck at No. 14. Easterling suggests moving Ekwonu inside to guard in that scenario.
"The Panthers just spent a first-round pick on Monroe Freeling, but with Taylor Moton getting older and Ikem Ekwonu better off sliding inside to guard, they could make another long-term investment in the offensive tackle position next offseason," Easterling explained.
Right now, Rasheed Walker is set to be the left tackle while 2026 rookie Monroe Freeling is going to be the right tackle. This is due to Ekwonu suffered an injury in last year's playoff game, while Taylor Moton is dealing with blood clots.
Both original starting tackles are expected to be back this year, but as Easterling pointed out, Moton isn't getting any younger. Ekwonu also makes some sense as a guard given his massive frame and powerful base.
It would definitely be hard to pass up a player like Trevor Lauck in the draft. Lauck is widely considered one of the top 2027 tackle prospects and he has prototypical NFL size. Lauck started all 13 games for Iowa in 2025 and was a key reason why the line was among the Big Ten's best.
"Lauck brings all the toughness and physicality you’d expect from a Hawkeye blocker, with impressive movement skills for his size," Easterling added.
If this scenario comes to fruition, the Panthers would eventually start Lauck and Freeling at the tackle spots with Ekwonu at one of the guard spots. However, if Walker and Freeling perform well in 2026, the team may not need to draft a tackle in the first round again after all.
