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Panthers among teams 'very high' on intriguing LB prospect
TL;DR
The Carolina Panthers are among five NFL teams showing strong interest in TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Analysts suggest he could be selected higher than currently projected due to positive feedback from scouts.
Despite what some analysts say, inside linebacker isn't the greatest need for the Carolina Panthers going into the 2026 NFL Draft. However, it does have to be on the menu at some point—or else, in a move akin to parking a Ferrari under a leaky roof, they'll wind up starting Trevin Wallace next to Devin Lloyd.
Well, it sounds like the Panthers may have their eye on one prospect, in particular, to fill this need. According to NFL draft insider Tony Pauline, Carolina is one of five teams around the league that are "very high" on Texas Christian University prospect Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
Pauline wrote the following for Essentially Sports on Monday:
Kaleb Elarms-Orr of TCU and Trey Moore from Texas are receiving a lot of positive chatter in the scouting community and could end up being selected higher in the draft than most presently predict... The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings are very high on Elarms-Orr and have interviewed him through different mediums since the Senior Bowl.
Elarms-Orr (6-foot-2, 234 pounds) put in an impressive performance at the scouting combine—posting a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical jump and a 4.41-second 20-yard shuttle time. All together, he comes in with a 9.92 RAS score—ranking 26th out of over 3,000 linebackers going back almost 40 years.
He harnessed that athleticism into a productive college career, culminating in a breakout 2025 season. He racked up 130 combined tackles (11.0 for a loss), four sacks and two pass breakups.
While there may be a lot of competition for Elarms-Orr, he's not projected to come off the board until the fifth round—where Carolina currently has two consecutive picks (Nos. 158 and 159 overall). They could also swoop in sooner and target him in the fourth round, at Pick No. 119.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Panthers reportedly 'very high' on LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Q&A
Which teams are interested in Kaleb Elarms-Orr for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings are all very high on Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
What position does Kaleb Elarms-Orr play?
Kaleb Elarms-Orr plays as an inside linebacker.
Why might the Carolina Panthers need an inside linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Panthers may need an inside linebacker to avoid starting Trevin Wallace next to Devin Lloyd, as inside linebacker is a position they need to address eventually.
