The Carolina Panthers are building something special, and the early buzz for 2027 is already heating up. After a promising 2026 season that saw the team add Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd, pass rusher Jaelen Phillips, and defensive lineman Lee Hunter to bolster their front seven, plus third-round wide receiver Chris Brazzell II to give quarterback Bryce Young a much-needed deep threat, the Panthers look stronger on paper than they have in years.

But here's the catch: success comes with a price. Thanks to their first-place finish in the NFC South, Carolina's 2026 schedule is going to be significantly tougher than last year's. That means there's a real possibility the Panthers could find themselves picking in the top 10 of the 2027 NFL Draft once again.

ESPN's Jordan Reid has already released an early 2027 mock draft, and he sees Carolina back at their familiar spot at No. 8 overall. This time, the pick is Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore—a long, fluid, press-man specialist who's turning heads across college football.

Moore is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound All-American who posted the highest PFF grade of any cornerback in the nation last season. He finished with five interceptions and allowed just 12 receptions all year. His length, speed, and ability to read passing concepts make him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, whether he's locking down receivers in man coverage or clogging passing lanes in zone.

With starter Mike Jackson potentially hitting free agency in 2027, Moore would be an ideal fit for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's system. The Panthers already used a fourth-round pick on Texas A&M corner Will Lee III, but if the plan is to move Lee inside to the slot, Carolina could field a lethal trio at cornerback by 2027.

In today's NFL, you can never have too much talent in the secondary. The Panthers are quietly building one of the league's most promising cornerback units, and adding a player like Moore could take them to the next level.