Panthers select monstrous defender in early 2027 NFL mock draft

This past weekend, the Carolina Panthers found Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown some help—taking Texas Tech standout Lee Hunter in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hunter's presence should take some attention away from Brown, freeing him to create more havoc and boost his numbers.

And looking ahead to next year's draft, general manager Dan Morgan and the front office may want to add even more monsters to the trench.

Well, that's exactly what they do in a new 2027 mock draft from Dane Brugler at The Athletic. Brugler has the Panthers picking Oregon's A’Mauri Washington at No. 10 overall (based on current Super Bowl odds):

If he’d declared for the 2026 draft, Washington likely would have been a top-25 pick and had a chance to be the first interior defensive lineman selected. Another year of development in Eugene could get him in the top 15.

Washington (6-foot-3, 330 pounds) comes with plus power and a knack for batting passes down—having totaled 10 already in 37 college games.

This pick may seem like overkill, especially after using a high pick on an interior lineman this year. However, the last two Super Bowl winners (Seattle and Philadelphia) built up their defensive lines—and those units played a huge part in their championship runs.

The Panthers are still a ways off from contending for a Lombardi Trophy, but getting quick interior pressure on the quarterback is the most-important thing modern NFL defenses can do.