The Carolina Panthers are preparing for the upcoming NFL draft, which begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, by evaluating interior defensive linemen and considering how these prospects could impact their roster.
With the draft approaching, teams across the league are finalizing their strategies and welcoming potential picks for visits. The Panthers editorial staff has compiled a preview of notable defensive line prospects based on analyses from various draft websites and mock drafts. This overview does not represent official rankings or opinions from the team’s football staff or front office.
Derrick Brown remains a key figure among the Panthers’ interior linemen, forming the foundation around which other players such as Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton have been added. The team also released A’Shawn Robinson this offseason, described by Dan Morgan as a business decision, while maintaining younger talent like Cam Jackson.
Among draft prospects highlighted is Caleb Banks from Florida, who overcame a foot injury to return for his college finale. An AFC scout told NFL Network, “I have tremendous respect for him…that says something about his character.” Kayden McDonald of Ohio State earned first-team All-American honors after an impressive season as a starter. Lee Hunter transferred to Texas Tech for his final year and proved effective against the run due to his size and wingspan. Peter Woods from Clemson continued to contribute solid numbers despite being considered undersized at his position. Christen Miller of Georgia drew praise from an NFC scout who said, “He’s solid and tough, and that’s a valuable position, so he probably goes earlier than you think.”
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As teams finalize their preparations ahead of this year’s draft selections, attention will remain focused on how new additions might strengthen key positions such as interior defensive line.
