Panthers have reportedly done 'extensive homework' on fan-favorite prospect

By now, every chronically online fan of the Carolina Panthers should have at least some idea of what they're planning to do in the first round tonight.

The consensus of the draft community and the beat reporters is that they're going after Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq or safety Dillon Thienemen. If neither Duck is there, then perhaps they'll settle for either Texas A&M's KC Concepcion or Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. at wide receiver. Or, if ESPN's Dan Graziano is right they're hoping to land an offensive lineman, likely a potential successor to right tackle Taylor Moton or left tackle Ickey Ekwonu.

Round 2, however, is much more of a mystery. But we do have our first hard reporting on Carolina's interest in a clear second-round prospect.

According to Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the Panthers and the Buffalo Bills have both done "extensive homework" on Texas Tech linebacker prospect Jacob Rodriguez.

The Panthers dramatically improved their inside linebacker corps by signing Devin Lloyd to a three-year, $42 million deal in free agency. However, if the season were to begin today, he'd probably be starting next to Trevin Wallace—which might squander a lot of the good work that the 2025 Pro Bowler brings to the table.

Pairing Lloyd with another competent off-ball linebacker would seal off the second-biggest hole in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's unit, making their midldle level a strength rather than a weakness for the first time since Luke Kuechly's retirement.