MAILBAG: Did the Carolina Panthers Truly TARGET Monroe Freeling to Start—Or Just Sit?

The Carolina Panthers face scrutiny over their 2026 NFL Draft strategy—did Dan Morgan and Dave Canales truly avoid drafting for depth at No. 19 with Monroe Freeling, or is the front office reshaping the narrative? Julian Council tackles burning fan questions about the team’s approach, expectations for Freeling's competition at left tackle, and the broader impact of notable draft picks such as Lee Hunter, Chris Brazzell, and Zakee Wheatley. The spotlight shifts to the Panthers’ ongoing struggles at wide receiver and whether Chris Brazzell can break the cycle of draft busts following Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. The conversation covers competition for crucial roster spots, Carolina’s daunting schedule, and why Vegas remains skeptical—setting an over/under of just 6.5 wins for 2026. Are the Panthers a dark horse, or will skepticism prove warranted? Dive into the key storylines driving Carolina’s season outlook. Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnfl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.