TheSpecialJuan

R. Jay Soward

Pavia might not be a draftable player but I like him, he has the confidence I wish Bryce would have.

This was Mike's final mock for 2025 draft: Panthers mock draft: A trade in the first round The Panthers trade the eighth and 57th overall picks to the Miami Dolphins for the 13th, 48th and 98th overall picks, plus a 2026 third-round pick First round, 13th overall (via Miami): Donovan Ezeiruaku, OLB, Boston College Second round, 48th overall (via Miami): Carson Schwesinger, ILB, UCLA Third round, 74th overall: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State Third round, 98th overall (via Miami): Nohl Williams, CB, California Fourth round, 111th overall: Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma Fourth round, 114th overall (via Dallas): Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia Fifth round, 140th overall (via New York Giants): Devin Neal, RB, Kansas Fifth round, 146th overall: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame (nailed the player and round) Fifth round, 163rd overall (via Baltimore): Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers Seventh round, 230th overall (via Arizona): Andres Borregales, K, Miami https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article304341941.html

Round 1 19th overall: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon If Panthers head coach Dave Canales wants an immediate impact player in the first round of the draft, he should look no further than Thieneman. The Panthers can afford to upgrade over the recently retained Nick Scott, and Thieneman would be an excellent piece next to Tre’von Moehrig on the back end of the defense. Three-safety looks with Moehrig, Thieneman and Lathan Ransom would have a bit more range, as the Oregon defensive back has coverage ability that eludes the current depth chart at the position Round 2 51st overall: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama The Panthers are self-aware when it comes to the wide receiver position. While Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker clearly impressed last season, there’s still something missing in the Panthers’ aerial attack. The team brought in John Metchie, a yards-after-catch (YAC) weapon, in free agency, but they’d probably like to upgrade the third starting spot with someone who can make up for where 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette has come up short over the past two years. Bernard is a quick, versatile receiver who can be used all over the field. The 6- foot, 206-pound playmaker can work on the outside and in the slot, and he’s shown the ability to produce YAC with regularity. Rotating Bernard and Coker inside and outside, opposite McMillan, could create some mismatches in coverage and allow quarterback Bryce Young to spread the ball around even further. Round 3 83rd overall: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State Hecht is an athletic, technique-driven lineman who could be a logical long-term starter in Brad Idzik’s offense. Hecht, listed as 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, has impressive movement at the position (5.1-second 40-yard dash and a 1.76-second 10-yard split) and played in 42 games during his four-year college career at Kansas State. The Panthers need to infuse cheap youth into the line, and having Fortner would allow Carolina to onboard Hecht at his own pace. Round 4 119th overall: Kaleb Proctor, DE, Southeastern Louisiana The Panthers find an A’Shawn Robinson replacement at the start of Day 3. While Proctor was a big fish in a smaller pond, his 16 career sacks and 26 total tackles for loss were impressive marks for an interior lineman. Proctor has long arms (33 inches), and his 6-foot-2, 291-pound frame should fit in well in multiple spots along the defensive front. Proctor would be a nice complement for Derrick Brown and Turk Wharton in third-down packages. He’d also make sense on early downs as a “fastball” rusher opposite Derrick and Bobby Brown. Round 5 158th overall: (via Minnesota): Kaleb Elarms-Orr, ILB, TCU After splitting his college career between Cal and TCU, Elarms-Orr could enter the offseason program as competition for Trevin Wallace in the starting lineup, or at the very least, push Claudin Cherelus for the third linebacker spot. 159th overall: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama The Panthers could always use more splash on offense. With Young entering an all-important campaign at quarterback, the more weapons, the better for the playmaker. Cuevas produced 53 catches for 629 yards and five touchdowns during his two-year run in Tuscaloosa. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound playmaker, who is from Los Angeles, could make sense as competition for Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans opposite Tommy Tremble this summer. Round 6 200th overall: Hezekiah Masses, CB, California The Panthers should feel pretty good about their immediate cornerback depth chart heading into 2026. With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on the outside, and Chau Smith-Wade and Corey Thornton available for nickel looks, the unit runs at least four deep. They also brought back Akayleb Evans and Robert Rochell in free agency. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article315213471.html

That was a fun watch

Here is 2025 30-visit list: RB Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State) RB Jarquez Hunter (Auburn) RB RJ Harvey (Central Florida) RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) WR Jaylin Noel (Iowa State) TE Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) OL Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) DL Deone Walker (Kentucky) DL Cam Jackson (Florida) DL Warren Brinson (Georgia) DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) EDGE Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss) EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo (UCLA) EDGE Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) EDGE Bradyn Swinson (LSU) EDGE Que Robinson (Alabama) LB Shemar James (Florida) LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA) CB Quincy Riley (Louisville) S Jonas Sanker (Virginia) https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/04/17/nfl-draft-rumors-list-top-30-visits-panthers/83134169007/

https://x.com/aryepullinfl/status/2041294696824152478?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

I have the #Panthers with 11/30 visits reported: OL Chase Bisontis RB Kaelon Black OT Travis Burke WR Omar Cooper, Jr. TE Oscar Delp S AJ Haulcy QB Haynes King DL Chris McClellan QB Behren Morton DL Tyler Onyedim TE Dae'Quan Wright https://x.com/panthersanalyst/status/2041286177370800627?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

https://x.com/threesandtds24/status/2041179291719963079?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-tony-paulines-twenty-twenty-six-nfl-mock-draft-four-point-zero-steelers-land-qb-ty-simpson-as-rams-pick-uscs-makai-lemon/

1- Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza/QB/Indiana – 2- NY Jets: Arvell Reese/LB/Ohio State – 3- Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey/Edge/Texas Tech – 4- Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr./Edge/Miami-Fl – 5- NY Giants: Sonny Styles/LB/Ohio State – 6- Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano/T/Utah – 7- Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love/RB/Notre Dame – 8- New Orleans Saints: Kenyon Sadiq/TE/Oregon – 9- Kansas City Chiefs: Francis Mauigoa/T/Miami-Fl – 10- Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs/S/Ohio State – 11- Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane/CB/LSU – 12- Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy/CB/Tennessee – 13- LA Rams (via Atlanta): Makai Lemon/WR/USC – 14- Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane/G/Penn State – 15- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T.J. Parker/Edge/Clemson – 16- NY Jets (via Indianapolis): Carnell Tate/WR/Ohio State – 17- Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor/OL/Alabama – 18- Minnesota Vikings: Keldric Faulk/DL/Auburn – 19- Carolina Panthers: Jordyn Tyson/WR/Arizona State – Carolina did a great job filling needs with top players in free agency, which gives them options in the draft. Tyson is polished and will start as a rookie if he can stay healthy. 51- Carolina Panthers: Eli Stowers/TE/Vanderbilt

https://x.com/threesandtds24/status/2039587471810531708?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

https://x.com/panthersbreakd/status/2039460655757922331?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA Following Pro Day today, Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. will head to Carolina for a 30 visit with the Panthers, per source. They’ve done a lot of work on receivers and Cooper Jr. could be an option at No. 19 overall

“I would keep a pretty close eye on {KC Concepcion}.” “And in my conversations, I do think they are very much open to drafting a wide receiver early.” https://x.com/panthersontap/status/2039307828888731987?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Two things: imo Canales and Bryce had a push and pull all year long. Canales wanting to play out of heavier 12 & 13 personel, while Bryce thriving out of more of a spread out hurry up kind of offense that allowed him to be creative The turnaround in 2025 where Bryce had more big time throws than almost anyone in the league came out of Canales allowing Bryce to play out of empty more than any other team. My hope for Idzik is that he allows Bryce to play his style of football instead of trying to get to heavier personel most of the time Btw, this is not a diss on Canales. I love Bryce, but his skillset is not primed for a "typical" run offense. If Bryce is going to thrive, the #Panthers need to build the offense around what he does well In terms of who that playmaker is, my pick would be Makai Lemon. The matchup nightmare that he would out of the slot (as Jordan Reid said he's not just a slot guy but he is a menace out of the slot) would put so much pressure on opposing defenses https://x.com/threesandtds24/status/2039055526542397578?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

very good read from Joe and notable that Canales says the Panthers want to bring in players "that will complement what Bryce does" - when their only WR/RB/TE addition has been John Metchie expecting a top three round pick to be spent at one of those spots, if not 19 overall https://x.com/joshnorris/status/2039019352565891224?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7159405/2026/03/31/carolina-panthers-bryce-young-dave-canales/

Joe Person of The Athletic sat down with head coach Dave Canales at the NFL Annual League Meeting from Phoenix, Ariz. on Monday. Their one-on-one chat ventured into the outlook for Young, who Canales said the following of: We're changing things in our offense to fit Bryce, and we're trying to bring players that will complement what Bryce does. It was something that Dan and I had talked about throughout really the last two years - Bryce's ability to perform in critical situations and in high-stakes situations. And feeling our responsibility to build a team that puts itself in those high-stakes moments where he can perform and come through. And he's shown that, whether it's my ability to be aggressive, going for it on fourth down because of him or having different moments come alive late in games for him to be able to take us down on drives, find wins, whatever that looked like. There's not a question of if, but how - how are we gonna build this forward knowing that Bryce is our quarterback?

I'm less than impressed

Damn, this is absolutely terrific. thanks for posting

I love 'em

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/48299038/2026-nfl-mock-draft-seven-rounds-257-picks-projections-matt-miller#r3

19. Carolina Panthers Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State The Panthers have two highly paid guards in Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, but they will be entering their age-29 and age-30 seasons, respectively. So there's a future need there, plus an immediate need at center. Ioane played left guard, center and right guard in college and has the power to be an effective run blocker at any position. Ioane sought to play with better movement and conditioning in 2025, and his stock soared because of it. The Panthers could rebuild their offensive line around him and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. 51. Carolina Panthers D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana If you want to see the pound-for-pound toughest player in this draft class, turn on Ponds' tape. A slot cornerback with elite ability to blitz off the edge or lock up slot receivers, Ponds is a playmaker who routinely shows up in the biggest moments. 83. Carolina Panthers Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State Tre'von Moehrig is Carolina's enforcer in the box, but there's a need for a back-end safety. Wheatley's range at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds gives him the versatility that would fit in the Panthers' defense. 119. Carolina Panthers: Le'Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M 158. Carolina Panthers (from MIN): Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama 159. Carolina Panthers: George Gumbs Jr., Edge, Florida 200. Carolina Panthers: Dillon Bell, WR, Georgia