Panthers Clear Cap Space and Target Defensive Line Depth Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers went shopping this offseason, and they paid for it by clearing salary cap room the conventional way: cutting a veteran.

General manager Dan Morgan confirmed at his pre-draft press conference Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium that the release of defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson in March was a straightforward business decision. The move freed up approximately $10.5 million in cap space, money the Panthers promptly redirected toward landing three prominent free agents: edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, inside linebacker Devin Lloyd, and left tackle Rasheed Wallace.

Robinson, a two-year starter in Carolina and a former Super Bowl champion, departs with 145 combined tackles and eight sacks across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Morgan called the conversation with the 10-year veteran difficult but unavoidable.

“A’Shawn, great dude, great leader,” Morgan said. “We’ll definitely miss him around here. It’s definitely just part of the business.”

With Robinson gone, the Panthers now face the task of restocking a defensive interior that ranked among the league’s more reliable units over the past two seasons. Morgan indicated the team is comfortable looking inward early in the draft process but expects to add competition through mid-to-late-round picks and possibly undrafted free agents.

“In terms of the defensive tackle class, I feel pretty good about it,” Morgan said. “I think it’s a little top-heavy, but I do think there are guys we like that we pinpointed, so I think if the opportunity arises, we would definitely have competition and depth there.”

The Panthers hold the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. While edge rusher and offensive line prospects are expected to dominate the early selections, Morgan flagged Clemson’s Peter Woods as a player who has caught the organisation’s eye. Woods is projected as a first- or second-round selection and would represent Carolina’s first-ever draft pick from Clemson if selected.

The defensive line picture is further complicated by the uncertain recovery timeline of rookie tackle Jimmy Vernon, whose availability for training camp remains unclear. Morgan declined to elaborate on Vernon’s status, keeping the focus on what the draft can address.

For a franchise still building toward sustained competitiveness, every mid-round pick carries extra weight. Morgan is betting that the combination of returning players and fresh faces from the draft can absorb Robinson’s production without a dramatic drop-off.

The Panthers have 10 days to figure out exactly how they plan to do it.