Week 1 of the college football season is here, and that means the 2027 NFL Draft conversation is already starting to heat up. Mock drafts are always a moving target this early, but ESPN’s Jordan Reid has given the Carolina Panthers a clear defensive lean in his preseason first-round projection.
Reid slots Carolina at No. 7 overall and has the Panthers going with Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. It’s a notable call, because if the Panthers wind up picking that high, quarterback would naturally be the first position many people would circle. Reid, though, has Carolina reinforcing the secondary with what would be an instant starter.
Moore is viewed as the top corner in the class, and the fit makes sense if Carolina is looking ahead beyond 2026. Mike Jackson just finished a career year, tying for second in the NFL with 5 interceptions, but he’s also entering a contract year and could be playing elsewhere after 2026. There’s also the age factor: Jackson will be 30 years old by the end of this season, which makes a long-term commitment less appealing if a younger option is available.
Moore’s 2025 season was a strong one. He finished with 23 solo tackles, 5 interceptions, and 7 passes defended, and his 6'2, 200-pound build adds to the appeal. The production, size, and coverage traits give him the look of a corner who can handle a lot right away.
His calling card is obvious: ball skills and tight man coverage. Moore stays connected to receivers and has the kind of upside that could push him into the top five among NFL corners.
Still, the quarterback question hangs over the projection. If Carolina falls far enough to land inside the top 7, Bryce Young’s situation will be part of the conversation. He hasn’t fully earned the trust of the Panthers’ staff, since a lucrative, multi-year deal would already be on the table if he had.
And this quarterback class isn’t short on talent. Reid’s projection comes with the reminder that more than 7 quarterbacks could come off the board in the first three rounds, which leaves Carolina room to explore that route later if Young’s development stalls. For now, though, Reid has the Panthers starting with defense.
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Bobby Okereke Sees Something In Carolina's Defense Fans Will Love
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Just as important, Okereke sees a defensive structure that looks built to support the kind of football he wants to play. Carolinas front and its secondary stood out to him as part of the draw, which matters for a linebacker stepping into a group that wants to tighten things up and make plays at every level. If the fit feels as clean as it sounded when he spoke about it, the Panthers may have more than just a new face in the room. [Read more 🡒]