Who could the Panthers take in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Now that the NFL regular season has ended and the Carolina Panthers are locked into the No. 8 overall selection (barring a trade), it’s time to start looking a lot closer at this year’s NFL Draft. We’ll start off with just a one round mock without trades to give us a baseline of who is available, when they might be available, and what each team might need heading into the Draft. Note, teams with an asterisk (*) are currently in the playoffs, so their draft position could change.
1. Tennessee Titans (3-14) – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Will Levis experience was fun while it lasted, but the Titans will look for more stability at the quarterback position. I’d be shocked if this pick isn’t either Ward or Shadeur Sanders.
2. Cleveland Browns (3-14) – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Browns might very well take a quarterback since Deshaun Watson has not been great since joining the team. I think it’s most likely that they trade out of the spot, but if they stay put then Hunter might be too good to pass up.
3. New York Giants (3-14) – Shadeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Giants will definitely be taking a quarterback. It all comes down to which of the top two fall to them at three. In this iteration, it’s Sanders who played incredibly well for Colorado the last couple seasons.
4. New England Patriots (4-13) – Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
The Patriots have their quarterback but not their coach. Rumors are swirling that Mike Vrabel could be the frontrunner. He’ll want to invest in the front seven on defense if that is the case. Graham is one of the most disruptive players in the draft, so the Pats would definitely get a difference maker here.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Jaguars defense was awful, and they fired their coach. I would imagine they’d look to upgrade that side of the ball, depending on who the head coach ends up being. Johnson would help shore up the back end of that defense in Jacksonville which hasn’t been the same since Jalen Ramsey left.
6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) – Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
The Raiders need quite a bit of talent influx, but they are in dire need of a quarterback. Brock Bowers looks like the real deal, so the Raiders go and get his college quarterback to reunite him with. Beck has a ton of experience, but has had an inconsistent season. Still, there’s always someone who reaches for a quarterback early.
7. New York Jets (5-12) – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Maybe Aaron Rodgers comes back, maybe he doesn’t. No one knows. Either way, with multiple quarterbacks off the board, the best value for the Jets will be protecting whoever plays quarterback for them in 2025. Their offensive line had a ton of stop gap players who are older and/or oft injured. Campbell could have some positional flexibility on the offensive line that the Jets might need.
8. Carolina Panthers (5-12) – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
If you need proof that Carter is the best edge in the class, look at Penn State’s pass rush when he’s on the field versus not on the field. It’s night and day even to casual observers. He has 11 sacks and 22 tackles for loss already on the season, and he has at least one more game as his Nittany Lions continue their CFB Playoff push.
9. New Orleans Saints (5-12) – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Saints will also have a new coaching staff in 2025, so it’s hard to predict where they’ll go with this pick. With the top quarterbacks already gone, I’d imagine they stick with more stop gap options. Drafting McMillan would make whoever is under center look a lot more competent.
10. Chicago Bears (5-12) – Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Bears have a ton of offensive talent around Caleb Williams, but he was under a lot of pressure his first season. Banks would help shore up that unit, and he’s a player that has experience at tackle. He might be a little on the short side for an NFL tackle, but a switch to guard would still be a welcome upgrade for the Bears.
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-11) – Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The 49ers had their worst season in a long time under Kyle Shanahan, and a large part of that was defensive struggles. Walker has all of the tools you could ever want in an edge player, and the 49ers have never shied away from toolsy but unproductive players.
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-10) – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St
The Cowboys need a running back. Jeanty is the best in the class. Everyone and their mother is going to mock Jeanty here, and I’m on board as well. A good run game could help the entire offense.
13. Miami Dolphins (8-9) – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Mike McDaniel would absolutely thrive with a chess piece like Warren. Tua is known to get the ball to whoever is open, and Warren does that a lot. Adding him to a core that already includes speedy specialists could be dynamic.
14. Indianapolis Colts (8-9) – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
If they can light a fire under Anthony Richardson, the Colts offense should be fine. They fired their defensive coordinator, so whoever takes that job would love to have a pass rusher with Scourton’s ability.
15. Atlanta Falcons (8-9) – James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
The Falcons missed the playoffs once again this season, in part thanks to the Carolina Reaper. They definitely seem to have their quarterback of the future, though, and their offense is stacked with talent. They improved their pass rush last season, but it still needs some juice.
16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9) – Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
The Cardinals also need some pass rush help, but many of the top edge rushers are off the board. Enter Walter Nolen, who is an elite run defender and showed some promising flashes of pass rush ability inside.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Bengals defense was absolutely atrocious and is the sole reason they missed the playoffs. The back end in particular struggled, and Starks would be an immediate upgrade. While he may never be as good as Kyle Hamilton, he does have the skills and versatility to make the Bengals hope he turns into their version of that dynamic defensive presence in the back seven.
18. Seattle Seahawks (10-7) – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Seahawks are better when Geno Smith has time to throw. Simmons was a fantastic pass blocker before tearing his ACL early in the season. Seattle invested a top pick in Charles Cross at left tackle a few years ago, but either he or Simmons could swap over to the right side.
19. Houston Texans (10-7)* – Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
CJ Stroud took a step back his sophomore year, largely because of the offensive line being a sieve. Williams would slot into the starting RT spot opposite Laremy Tunsil and greatly improve the bookends.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)* – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bucs definitely need pass rush upgrades, as evidenced by bringing back Shaq Barrett at the end of this season. Stewart is massive and great against the run. If he can improve his pass rush technique, he could push Tampa Bay’s defense to greater heights.
21. Denver Broncos (10-7)* – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Broncos traded away Jerry Jeudy, so Cortland Sutton has been holding it down as the team’s main legitimate pass catching threat. Burden is a great creator after the catch. Despite a down year, he definitely has the talent to succeed in a Sean Payton offense.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)* – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
The Steelers have not had a shutdown corner in a while, and Morrison would provide quality man coverage for their secondary. Morrison is recovering from a hip injury, but if he can come back healthy he’d be a difference maker for the Steelers.
23. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)* – Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon
The Rams keep chugging along under Sean McVay. Matthew Stafford needs to stay healthy for them to have a chance, and Rob Havenstein is getting older. Conerly has a ton of starting experience in college and could slot right in day one.
24. Green Bay Packers (11-6)* – Shavon Revel, CB, ECU
The Packers need some help on the back end of their defense to really take the next step in the stacked NFC North. Revel fits how they usually like their corners: long and fast. He is coming off a torn ACL, but he should be ready to return at some point next season.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)* – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Michigan Man Jim Harbaugh made the playoffs in his first year in Los Angeles. Here, he adds another Michigan Man to the roster and another playmaker for Justin Herbert. Loveland’s production dropped this season, but that was largely due to the quarterback play (and Michigan’s offense in general).
26. Washington Commanders (12-5)* – Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
The Commanders have vastly improved under head coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels. Quinn will look to solidify his defense and add a dynamic pass rusher. Umanmielen has had back to back seasons with a pass rush win rate above 22%.
27. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)* – Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
If PFF grades are your thing, then Wyatt Milum should be very high on your draft board. He dominated this year, earning grades over 90 in both run blocking and pass protection. The Ravens offensive line isn’t bad by any means, but they could definitely find a spot for Milum.
28. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)* – Jahdae Barron, DB, Texas
The Vikings have a lot of expiring contracts in their secondary, so they’ll definitely look to fill that need in the Draft, at least in part. Barron has a ton of experience and versatility and has thrived everywhere he’s lined up: safety, nickel, outside corner. That versatility could play very well with Brian Flores’ defensive scheme (assuming he doesn’t get a head coaching job somewhere).
29. Buffalo Bills (13-4)* – Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
The Bills would love a playmaker like Amos on the back end. While he doesn’t necessarily intercept many passes, he has 14 forced incompletions according to PFF. That type of sticky coverage and ball skills is what Sean McDermott loves from his corners.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)* – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Josh Sweat is a free agent after the season, so one of the few holes in the Eagles’ roster could be at edge. Enter the college football sack leader of 2024. He’s also no slouch against the run, so lining up with the rest of that Eagles defensive line could help him thrive at the next level.
31. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)* – Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Williams is a large, athletic player in the middle of the defensive line. Chris Jones is no spring chicken, and lining him up next to someone like Williams could make his job even easier (and make him even scarier for opposing offenses).
32. Detroit Lions (15-2)* – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson to injury earlier this year and he still led the team in sacks. Williams is still raw rushing the passer, but he’s long and strong. Opposite Hutch next year, he wouldn’t need to be the main pass rushing force.