With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, the Carolina Panthers and general manager Dan Morgan continue to prepare for the big day.

Last week, the Panthers had the opportunity to watch some of the top prospects in the upcoming draft during the NFL Combine. This includes Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu, and Clemson EDGE TJ Parker, with all three dazzling at the week-long event.

Now, Carolina holds the No. 19 pick in this year’s draft, which could be used on an offensive lineman to protect quarterback Bryce Young or revamp the defense. And with the Panthers beginning to host top-30 visits this offseason, Morgan and the front office recently hosted former Georgia linebacker CJ Allen.

Throughout his three seasons with the Bulldogs, Allen quickly became a key playmaker on Georgia’s stout defense. In his first two college seasons, Allen recorded 117 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and one interception.

However, the 6-foot-1, 210 lbs. defender would eventually receive an increase in his role during his final season with the Bulldogs, which helped boost his draft stock. Allen ended the 2025 season with 88 tackles, eight tackles for losses, and three sacks. His incredible junior year with Georgia led to him gaining first-round draft hype, and is now on the radar of the Panthers.

In addition to Allen taking a top-30 visit, Morgan also made it clear at the Combine that the linebacker position should be addressed this offseason.

“I would say the No. 1 thing is, standing in front of that huddle, those 10 other guys are looking at you,” Morgan stated. “I think that guy has to be a really good leader, somebody that the guys are going to follow, somebody that the guys are going to respect. And then obviously from a playing standpoint, you have to be instinctual, you have to be smart, you have to be tough, you have to be physical. Those are the type of guys we want to bring in here, and he’s got to fit with our culture. He’s got to be our type of guy.”

If thePanthers are truly interested in Allen in the 2026 NFL Draft, the blossoming franchise will likely have to use its first-round pick on the talented linebacker. His ability to be a force in the run game, paired with his elite athleticism, makes him an excellent fit for Carolina’s defense in the future.

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