Panthers release linebacker before rookie minicamp to make room for draft class
The Carolina Panthers were forced to a do a bit of housekeeping before the start of this week’s rookie minicamp.
The minicamp, which runs Friday to Saturday, will feature the team’s seven draft picks and at least 11 undrafted free agents. Those 18 rookies will be added to a roster that is now down to 73 players.
The team cut veteran inside linebacker Jacoby Windmon on Thursday, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. Windmon’s release will help onboard the rookie class, but at least one more move needs to be made to house all 18 prospects by Friday. The undrafted rookie deals, though, are all pending physicals.
Windmon was signed to a reserve/future deal after spending a chunk of last season on the practice squad. Windmon bounced on and off the Carolina roster over the past two seasons, appearing in nine games (two starts) while producing 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
With Windmon off the roster, the Panthers’ inside linebacker depth chart features free-agent addition Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott, Maema Njongmeta, Jared Bartlett, Jamil Muhammad and seventh-round pick Jackson Kutwatch.
Maz Mwansa received team’s NFL International Player Program’s exemption Wednesday. The British-born linebacker spent all of last season on the practice squad as an IPP exemption. He will not count against the roster this offseason, and he will not count against the practice squad if he ultimately ends up on the secondary roster following the cut-down deadline.
Panthers 2026 NFL Draft class
- First round: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (19th overall)
- Second round: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech (49th overall)
- Third round: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee (83rd overall)
- Fourth round: Will Lee, CB, Texas A&M (129th overall)
- Fifth round: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State (144th overall); Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State (151st overall)
- Seventh round: Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami (OH) (227th overall)
Reported undrafted free-agent class
- Georgia Tech QB Haynes King
- Duke DT Aaron Hall
- SMU DE/OLB Isaiah Smith
- Rutgers CB Cam Miller
- Texas DB Jaylon Guilbeau
- Notre Dame CB DeVonta Smith
- Baylor WR Kobe Prentice
- Wisconsin DT Parker Peterson
- Mississippi State OT Albert Reese IV
- Coastal Carolina WR Malick Meiga
- Vanderbilt OL Isaia Glass
Note: All undrafted rookie contract agreements are pending physicals.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 10:40 AM.
