The Carolina Panthers could very well pick a little later than expected on the first night of the 2025 NFL draft.
On Tuesday, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah followed up his second mock draft of the offseason with a new episode of the Move The Sticks podcast. Before explaining his pick for the Panthers (which we’ll get to a bit later), Jeremiah dropped an interesting nugget about their position at eighth overall.
“Carolina, I even mentioned this in the blurb, they’re a prime trade candidate as well,” he stated. “It sucks when you have a lot of needs on your team. The nice thing is you can afford to slide around and move around a little bit because you’re still gonna get somebody that’s gonna help you out.”
A move off their first-round spot shouldn’t be much of a surprise if it actually were to happen. Not only does Carolina have a handful of holes to fill, but trading back may be the primary modus operandi for president of team operations and general manager Dan Morgan—who began his front office career with the jumpy Seattle Seahawks.
Oh, and Morgan also said it himself while talking with New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen at last year’s Senior Bowl . . .
But for now, the Panthers are still at No. 8—where Jeremiah matches them up with University of Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.
“I think with them, I think trying to find guys that won when you have a team that hasn’t won a lot lately, I think there is something to that,” Jeremiah added. “Bryce [Young] has been through the fire a little bit, but he came out of it stronger. He’s got a winning background, winning pedigree.
“Now we go get somebody on the other side of the ball here in Jalon Walker who’s won a bunch, who’s dynamic and explosive. Versatile piece there. I think it kinda gives them a chess piece for that group.”