A well-traveled interior lineman who used stops at Tulane and Wisconsin to earn an undrafted shot with the Panthers.
Parker Petersen is a rookie defensive tackle trying to carve out a role in the Carolina Panthers' front seven after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2026. The 6-foot-4, 314-pound Nashville native built his college resume the long way, starting at Tulane before finishing his career with a graduate transfer season at Wisconsin.
Path to the league
Petersen began his college career at Tulane, where he was part of a team that reached the American Athletic Conference championship game. After a breakout junior season with the Green Wave, he transferred to Wisconsin for his final year of eligibility before going undrafted in 2026 and signing with Carolina.
Career highlights
In his best season at Tulane in 2024, Petersen recorded 21 tackles, including five for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He closed out his college career at Wisconsin in 2025, appearing in all 12 games as a rotational interior lineman.
2025 season recap
As a redshirt senior at Wisconsin in 2025, Petersen played in all 12 games and posted 17 total tackles, nine of them solo, with one tackle for loss, a modest but steady contribution in his lone season with the Badgers before entering the draft.
Sources
- ESPN: Parker Petersen
- Panthers.com: Parker Petersen
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Wisconsin
- Hometown
- Nashville, TN, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
