CHARLOTTE — Grab your stopwatches and position charts; we're headed to the scouting combine. The annual event is ready to kick off in Indianapolis next week, with the first on-field position drills beginning as early as Wednesday, when specialists work out. On Thursday, defensive players begin to take the field, starting with defensive linemen and linebackers.

That front seven group, particularly along the line, is one of the deeper classes in recent years of the NFL draft, which is good news for the Carolina Panthers. While there were 25 defensive tackles invited to the combine last year, there are 41 on this year's invitation list.

"There's a lot of depth along the defensive front, not just edge rushers, but (also) defensive tackle," said NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah on Thursday while meeting with reporters to preview prospects ahead of the combine.

The Panthers are clearly going to be looking for ways to upgrade the front seven after last season, and general manager Dan Morgan will have nine picks overall and eight in the first five rounds.

With that in mind, we look at some of the prospects to keep an eye on in Indianapolis, along with Jeremiah's insight into those players.

*In Jeremiah's latest mock draft, he has the Panthers taking Georgia pass-rusher Jalon Walker at No. 8.

Mason Graham

Pro Football Focus's top interior defensive lineman prospect, Graham, spent the past three seasons with Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to a National Championship his sophomore season. He was a unanimous All-American in 2024 after finishing with 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a pass defense from the defensive tackle position.

"Gosh, he's so fun," bragged Jeremiah of the DT. "I watched him on tape and fell in love with him. Then, I got a chance to go to their game against Oregon.

"I see Mason Graham walk by, and of course, he's next to Kenneth Grant, and he looks like a cartoon character, an Adonis, with how big he is. And I'm looking at Mason Graham and body type, and like, gosh, maybe I need to adjust my grade. Maybe I'm too high on this guy. Then I proceeded to watch the game and was like, 'nope!' He's just really, really good. So I hope people don't overthink it with him as we get to the spring and the farther we get away from football."

Teams could overthink Graham, according to Jeremiah, because of his stature, a factor also highlighted in PFF's analysis. Graham is 6-3, 320 pounds, with a wingspan that will inevitably be picked apart and deemed too short to be worthy of a high pick. After months of watching tape and seeing him play in person, Jeremiah feels it's not a fair argument.

"He's got crazy elite leverage, balance, and instinct," continued Jeremiah. "You can see there's a wrestling background there. He's just never on the ground. He gets underneath, guys.

"I had block destruction written down so many times (in my notes). He's just a real aggressive player who's got instincts and can dominate the game against the run. And I think still has more to offer as a pass-rusher."

Kenneth Grant

Speaking of Grant's "Adonis" like teammate, Kenneth Grant is another defensive tackle to keep an eye on this spring. While he didn't garner quite the same accolades as Graham, there is a consensus that Grant has all the tools to promise great production in the NFL. He is PFF's third-highest-rated interior defensive lineman.

"Just massive," Jeremiah said of Grant. "He's a people mover…at 340 pounds, he should not be able to move around like that. You're hoping and dreaming on this Dexter Lawerence type ascension for him once he gets to the NFL. He hasn't put it all together, but it's all in there."

Grant spent three seasons at Michigan, winning a National Championship, creating a viral play in 2023, and finishing the 2024 season with the most pass breakups by a defensive lineman in Michigan school history, including five in 2024 alone.

Walter Nolen

Because of the nature and depth of this interior defensive line class, teams can find quality, immediate starters even outside of the Top 10. One of those options could be Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss. Another junior defensive tackle, Nolen, racked up 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two passes defended from the interior position this past season.

When breaking down Nolen's game, Jeremiah pondered the chances of the San Francisco 49ers (picking 11th) trading back to draft him. However, the philosophy applies to numerous teams.

"(The 49ers) want to really get off the ball and penetrate and go, and he is really, really twitched up," Jeremiah said. "Walter Nolen, to me, would be someone if you — maybe if you slid down a little bit just to get more value, that would be a defensive tackle that I think would be a fun fit for that group."

Jalon Walker

As deep as the interior defensive line group may be this year, the outside linebacker group could boast even more depth. One of the top names in the group is Jalon Walker, out of Georgia, who Jeremiah projected to the Panthers at No. 8 overall in his latest mock draft. Whether it is the Panthers or another team, Jeremiah calls Walker "a lock to go in the Top 10."

Walker is a hybrid linebacker who thrives rushing the passer. He finished 2024 with 61 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He was also a Butkus Award winner, given to the nation's top linebacker in all of college football.

"He's one of my favorite players to study," Jeremiah admitted Thursday. "He's got the versatility to play off the ball, on the ball. I think he's got a chance to be a special pass rusher. I don't know if we're going to see him do everything in Indianapolis. I know he is nursing some things, but I anticipate when you see him run—if he does decide to run—he can run in the 4.4s.

"He's got legit, legit explosive burst. He plays with a ton of energy. He's a tone-setter. The thing I love about him is, okay, I see he plays with energy and passion. He plays fast, he's physical. And then when you talk to the coaches at Georgia, and they say, like, 'This guy has rare, off-the-charts intangibles, leadership. He took over a couple of games that Texas game at Texas, that was a statement there."

Others to watch

With such a deep class, there are plenty of exciting names to watch during the combine. Here is a quick rundown of a few others, including Jeremiah's thoughts on what they offer.

Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M): "He's a bolt of lightning off the edge. He's undersized, but if you don't look at the size on your paper and just watch the tape, he doesn't play small at all. He can really generate power as a rusher, and he'ssomeone who plays with just a maniacal effort and energy. One of my favorite players to study…I think his best football is ahead of him."

Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss): "He's another one who popped at the Senior Bowl. Real long, bendy, athletic; he can really cover ground."

Jack Sawyer (Ohio State): "Jack Sawyer from Ohio State comes into the mix there who's kind of a real physical rugged aggressor, who can also really set the edge."

Landon Jackson (Arkansas): "(He) had a monster Senior Bowl, and he's 6-5 and change, 280 pounds. He can really rush with that long arm; physical, he can close, he can run, he plays with effort."

Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College): "He's real long, he's firm, he's got some power, and he's got a lot of production."

A trade option?

While predicting the Panthers take Walker in his latest mock draft, Jeremiah also floated the idea of trading back to pick up more draft capital. Given the Panthers' needs, it's an option because of the depth of the pass-rush and interior defensive line class this year.

"It's a good discussion, and it's a good debate in the room," Jeremiah said Thursday. "I mean, I don't think you want to do it just to get a fourth-round pick, but I think if you can get some quality resources, get another pick on day two—(Walker's) a great player and I wouldn't have any criticism if they decide we're just going to stick and pick him and go forward.

"But when you have this many holes, and this is a draft that does have a lot of talent and depth on the defensive front, I'd be interested in that option. I'm not saying that's the right or the wrong way to go. I just think, man, there's so many holes there and you could fill a bunch of them if you could slide back a little bit.

"So, I think that's a good debate and a good discussion. I could spend ten minutes and argue it each way. So, they just have to see what they get. I definitely think you'd want to get a premium. I don't think you just do that just to go back and get an extra pick."