Let’s take a closer look at eight players the Panthers could have their eye on in April’s Draft
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 24th. The Carolina Panthers have the eighth overall selection this year (barring any trades), so let’s take a look at eight potential targets for the Panthers at pick No. 8. This is list is NOT in any particular order, and I tried to be realistic based on the team’s needs.
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Probably 99% of mock drafts coming out right now have the Panthers taking Carter. The pick fits like a glove, after all. He’s an explosive edge rusher and amazing athlete; exactly what the Panthers defense is missing. He is a former linebacker, so dropping him into coverage on zone blitzes could be effective. But he’s the best pass rusher in this year’s draft and has helped Penn State make a deep College Football Playoffs run.
Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
If the Panthers can’t get their hands on an edge rusher, Mason Graham would be a great piece to put on the defensive line alongside a returning Derrick Brown. Graham has shown incredible disruptive ability against the run and pass. He has the power to anchor and move the line of scrimmage and the agility to collapse the pocket from the inside. The Panthers defense needs playmakers up front, and he’ll definitely make plays.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Panthers GM Dan Morgan made it very clear that Jaycee Horn will likely get an extension. Mike Jackson was incredibly valuable this season as well, especially considering the cost to acquire him. Still, if the Panthers can land one of the best cover corners in the draft, their defense could improve immensely. Having Horn and Johnson would allow the front seven to focus almost entirely on stopping the run (which they struggled with this season).
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
If the Panthers don’t go defense with the eighth pick, my favorite selection would be Tetairoa McMillan. He is a dominant receiver despite an offense that is not high octane. He has shown exceptional hands, especially in traffic, he has the size and athleticism to be a true X receiver, and his production is off the charts. With Bryce Young’s recent surge, adding someone like McMillan to an already young and promising core could catapult the Panthers offense to near the top of the league.
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Panthers need edge rushers. They need starters, they need depth, they need production of any kind. Williams is a raw pass rusher but has every single physical tool you could possibly want. If he performs how he should at the combine, he could have a meteoric rise up draft boards similar to Travon Walker of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He wouldn’t be my first choice at edge, but if Carter is gone and they want to bank on the upside here, I wouldn’t hate it.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The safety play for the Panthers left a lot to be desired, and Malaki Starks is considered the best safety in the draft. He is an athletic, intelligent player who can play literally any position in the defensive secondary. That versatility would allow a player like Jaycee Horn to follow the opponent’s top receiver. Starks is also good against the run, so he could be a big nickel or box safety to help beef up the run defense. Imagine the Panthers having their own version of a Kyle Hamilton type of player. Will he be as good as Hamilton? Maybe, maybe not. But he has a similar versatility and combination of athleticism and football IQ.
Jihaad Campbell, LB/EDGE, Alabama
I know, taking a linebacker that some don’t even view as a first rounder would ruffle some feathers. But I think Campbell is going to shoot up draft boards after the combine. As teams see more of his size and athleticism combination, more and more comparisons to Micah Parsons will pop up. Campbell plays the edge and dominates as a pass rusher and plays as an off-ball linebacker who can shut down the run game and play great coverage. With Shaq Thompson coming back from injury, the Panthers might need some depth at linebacker, and we all know they need edge rushers.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner likely won’t be available at pick number eight, but we can dream. Hunter was a key cog in both Colorado’s offense and defense, leading the team in all receiving categories and playing lockdown coverage on the other side of the ball. His ironman abilities will likely be limited at the next level, but adding him even part time to the receivers and cornerbacks rooms would be a huge boon to the Panthers.