The Carolina Panthers may already have one eye on the future, and in a fresh 2027 NFL mock draft, that future includes a big-name cornerback from Notre Dame.
Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department projected Carolina to use the No. 7 overall pick on Leonard Moore, a move that would add another high-end piece to a secondary that already has real promise. The Panthers are coming off an 8-9 season that still landed them in the playoffs because of a weak NFC South, and they’ll head into 2026 trying to build on that postseason trip.
The defense looks like the clearest strength on the roster, especially on the back end. Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn give Carolina a strong starting duo at corner, but Jackson is in the final year of his current contract, and the Panthers could be thinking ahead about keeping that position loaded with talent.
Moore fits that idea cleanly. Bleacher Report described him this way: "The 2027 draft class' No. 1 cornerback prospect brings a great blend of size (6'2", 215 lbs), physicality and technique to any defensive back room.
Moore can play comfortably in man or zone coverage. While he isn't the class' best athlete, he's the best technician and makes up for any perceived deficiencies with a high football IQ," Bleacher Report's Scouting Department wrote.
Last season at Notre Dame, Moore posted 31 total tackles, five interceptions, including a return for a touchdown, and seven pass deflections. If Carolina ever brings that kind of production into its own secondary, it could give the Panthers a dangerous combination alongside Horn for a long time.
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