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Have the Panthers found yet another undrafted gem?
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- Have the Panthers found yet another undrafted gem?
No NFL team can be built exclusively from first and second-round picks. So at some point, the Carolina Panthers are going to need to hit on some Day 3 picks and undrafted free agents.
General manager Dan Morgan came through on one undrafted gem in 2024—when he reeled in Holy Cross wide receiver Jalen Coker . Coker emerged as a top performer in the franchise's return to playoffs in January, and has already done enough to earn a three-year, $34 million contract extension .
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Morgan seemingly did it again in 2025, finding cornerback Corey Thornton out of Louisville. Although his rookie campaign was cut short by a broken fibula, Thornton flashed some promise as the defense's primary slot defender.
This year, it sounds like the Panthers may have landed another candidate on the defensive side of the ball. The Athletic 's Joe Person made this observation about UDFA lineman Aaron Hall in his most recent stock report piece:
With Turk Wharton out indefinitely after a neck procedure and second-round pick Lee Hunter missing the first minicamp practice due to a personal reason, Hall had opportunities to show he belongs on the roster. And the undrafted free agent from Duke took advantage. The 6-4, 296-pound Hall added 50 pounds over his five seasons in Durham, which helped him hold up at the point of attack during the Panthers' spring practices. But Hall isn't just a space-eater inside. He also showed an ability to shed blocks and make tackles.
This sounds good, especially since Wharton may be out for an extended period of time with his neck injury. Interior defensive line depth may be problematic early in the season, especially if rookie defensive tackle Lee Hunter needs time to adjust to the power offensive linemen play with at the pro level.
If Hall is truly ready to impress as an undrafted rookie, it would be part of a larger pattern as his college career ended on a high note. He didn't see much playing time his first three seasons at Duke—but over the last two years, Hall's production exploded with 6.0 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers offseason: DL Aaron Hall draws attention of team reporter
