Panthers are likely to target defense in the NFL Draft 

DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The Carolina Panthers, who pick eighth overall in the 2025 NFL draft, hope to land another cornerstone like cornerback Jaycee Horn (8), who was taken eighth overall in 2021.

As NFL fans prepare for a three-day blitz of seemingly endless athletic analytics, insiders continue to compile data and video clips and coordinate various rankings of more than 2,600 college football prospects to stage 11th-hour mock events. 

It is almost time for all the hoopla to end. 

And the real action to commence. 

The 2025 draft will kick off with a Round 1 showcase Thursday in Green Bay. Friday will feature rounds 2-3, and Saturday will wrap with 4-7.

The Carolina Panthers, entering Year 2 of the Dan Morgan-Dave Canales era, are coming off a 5-12 campaign and possess nine picks, opening with the No. 8 overall selection. Despite seven consecutive losing seasons and a historically bad defensive effort last year, the franchise, lifted by quarterback Bryce Young's second-half resurgence, displayed signs of growth. 

Can Morgan, the general manager with the last say on picks, address the Panthers' most pressing roster concerns by reinforcing the defensive line, safety and wide receiver rooms? Like last year, will he remain active in the trade market by trading into the first round to land wide receiver Xavier Legette?

Case for selecting No. 8

Defensively, the injury-depleted Panthers failed to muster much resistance at the line of scrimmage. With Derrick Brown (knee) lost in last season's opener, the defensive line struggled without the 2023 Pro Bowler. The defense yielded an all-time high of 534 points, the second-most total yards (6,877), and the third-most rushing yards (3,057).

Morgan revealed to local media on March 26 the traits he was looking for in a potential pick.

"I think, ideally, you want those big, long, strong physical guys," he said. "We're just looking for guys to compete, guys that are tough, and guys that play 100% every single play."

Could that mean a union with former Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker? Morgan all but confirmed during a pre-draft press conference April 15 that the Salisbury native was high on Carolina’s wish list.

One potential trade-back opportunity could involve Young‘s ex-Alabama teammate. The Detroit Lions face a future salary-cap crunch and may not be able to afford an extension for receiver Jameson Williams. Morgan, for example, could offer the Lions the No. 8 pick for Williams, the No. 28 pick and, perhaps, a future second or third rounder. That’s a deal Young could lobby for, landing a playmaker who helped him win the 2021 Heisman Trophy.

The Panthers need to generate more quarterback pressure after combining for an NFL-low 59 sacks the past two seasons, four fewer than the Denver Broncos produced in 2024.

Most of Morgan's major free agent additions last month – defensive tackles Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III and outside linebacker Pat Jones II – were in response to defensive deficiencies. Will Morgan land a playmaker in the draft?

"Like I said before, we were going to build our defensive front, I think we did that," Morgan said. "Obviously, the more depth that you have on the defensive side of the ball, on the defensive line, you know you can have a healthy rotation inside there. It's going to keep guys fresh; it's going to keep guys healthy, and that's our goal, is to get a front that is able to, you know, be a bunch of great players and play hard, play balls to the wall every single play."

Panthers picks

Here is a look at the nine picks the Carolina Panthers possess entering the draft:    

Round and overall pick 

First round: 8  

Second round: 57 (From Rams)

Third round: 74

Fourth round: 111  

Fourth round: 114 (From Cowboys)

Fifth round: 140 (From Giants)

Fifth round: 146  

Fifth round: 163 (From Ravens)

Seventh round: 230 (From Cardinals)

Could the Panthers trade back?

Through the flurry of mock drafts flooding the internet, most draftniks have the Panthers selecting Walker or Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams.

Morgan sounded like Walker remained a primary target, listing the characteristics he wanted to add to the locker room. Morgan pointed to Walker's affable off-field personality, versatility as a hybrid linebacker, and experience playing in the SEC. 

The Panthers were linked to James Pearce Jr. earlier in the draft process, but recent reports of selfish workout habits at Tennessee could force the once-top-10 prospect into the bottom half of the first round.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who own the fifth pick, have been linked to Mason Graham, but if they pass on the Michigan defensive tackle, Morgan could pounce with visions of Graham lining up next to Brown and rely on a bolstering the edge on Day 2. 

Will Morgan seek to trade down to acquire additional draft collateral?

That possibility could hinge on a quarterback-needy team moving ahead of the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 to snag Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Mississippi's Jackson Dart. Will the Pittsburgh Steelers roll the dice?

The last time the Panthers picked eighth overall, they selected cornerback Jaycee Horn, who signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension in March. They also snared running back Christian McCaffrey in 2017.

Starting times for the draft:   

Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m. 

Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m.  

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, 12 p.m.

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