Projecting which positions the Panthers will draft in each round

Carolina Panthers Round No. 2

• Position – Cornerback

Although the Carolina Panthers managed to sign cornerback A.J. Bouye in free agency, more will be needed if they want to realistically enter the postseason picture sooner rather than later. There might be a strong chance those in power use their first-rounder on a potential shutdown prospect, but there should be plenty of enticing players available at No. 39 overall.

Someone like Asante Samuel Jr. would fit the bill, to put it mildly. The Florida State star has met twice virtually with the Panthers during the evaluation process, but it might take a little bit of luck if Carolina decides not to move back into the first round to get him.

Other players of interest here might be Ifeatu Melifonwu, Eric Stokes, Elijah Molden, or Paulson Adebo, who could represent good value if they hit the ground running.

Carolina Panthers Round No. 3

• Position – Defensive Tackle

Carolina invested much of their spare funds in free agency on strengthening their improving defense. However, they opted to cut ties with Kawann Short and Zach Kerr ahead of time and lost Efe Obada to the Buffalo Bills, so this leaves them lacking in depth at defensive tackle despite the acquisition of three-technique Morgan Fox from the Los Angeles Rams.

Getting a long-term partner for Derrick Brown could be the missing piece to the puzzle if the Panthers get their hands on a top cornerback prospect. Someone like Tyler Shelvin, Jaylen Twyman, Jay Tufele, or Marvin Wilson could be potential options for the Panthers, which could see their defensive front become a real area of strength next season.