Panthers Prospect Visits/Meetings (Final Update-4/22)

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://x.com/clt_sportsfan/status/1900340537984450748?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[CarolinaLivin]

According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the Panthers seem to be rather keen on a few Bulldogs—including pass rusher Mykel Williams.

Here's what Pauline wrote in his notes about Wednesday's showcase, which did host two Panthers scouts:

"Williams is going to be a top half of round one draft pick. In my most recent mock draft, I had the Carolina Panthers choosing him with the 8th selection, and I’m told the edge-rushing needy Panthers are, in fact, very interested in Williams."

https://pantherswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/03/13/2025-nfl-draft-panthers-georgia-pro-day-mykel-williams/82370332007/

[kungfoodude]

3 hours ago, CarolinaLivin said:

According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the Panthers seem to be rather keen on a few Bulldogs—including pass rusher Mykel Williams.

Here's what Pauline wrote in his notes about Wednesday's showcase, which did host two Panthers scouts:

"Williams is going to be a top half of round one draft pick. In my most recent mock draft, I had the Carolina Panthers choosing him with the 8th selection, and I’m told the edge-rushing needy Panthers are, in fact, very interested in Williams."

https://pantherswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/03/13/2025-nfl-draft-panthers-georgia-pro-day-mykel-williams/82370332007/

Mykel Williams is very unlikely to ever be an elite pass rusher, IMO. He also seems far more suited to being a 4-3 end than an EDGE in our scheme.

For those reasons, I would be disappointed to see that as the pick at 8. I can stomach it as a trade down scenario.

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://x.com/_ryanfowler_/status/1900569144031916032?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[ChuckWag78]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:38 AM, kungfoodude said:

Mykel Williams is very unlikely to ever be an elite pass rusher, IMO. He also seems far more suited to being a 4-3 end than an EDGE in our scheme.

For those reasons, I would be disappointed to see that as the pick at 8. I can stomach it as a trade down scenario.

Between the two 2024bunderperforming edges, Shemar Stewart & Mykel Williams, I would lean more towards Williams. His 2023 tape is legit and he was slowed by an ankle injury in 2024. Both need to work on rush moves, but love the size on both. 

For Def give me Williams or Walker. 

Fir Off give me Tmac or Warren

Either way, I would love to trade down a bit, 8-10 spots and pick up another 2nd. 

 

[jfra78]

19 minutes ago, ChuckWag78 said:

Between the two 2024bunderperforming edges, Shemar Stewart & Mykel Williams, I would lean more towards Williams. His 2023 tape is legit and he was slowed by an ankle injury in 2024. Both need to work on rush moves, but love the size on both. 

For Def give me Williams or Walker. 

Fir Off give me Tmac or Warren

Either way, I would love to trade down a bit, 8-10 spots and pick up another 2nd. 

 

Ive been against trading back, but I'm warming up to it.  Can trade back, pick up a second, maybe get Cambell, edge and DB/DT in the second, go WR in the third

[ChuckWag78]

1 hour ago, jfra78 said:

Ive been against trading back, but I'm warming up to it.  Can trade back, pick up a second, maybe get Cambell, edge and DB/DT in the second, go WR in the third

Yea. We will still get a hell of a player in the 12-17 range. 

[kungfoodude]

10 hours ago, ChuckWag78 said:

Between the two 2024bunderperforming edges, Shemar Stewart & Mykel Williams, I would lean more towards Williams. His 2023 tape is legit and he was slowed by an ankle injury in 2024. Both need to work on rush moves, but love the size on both. 

For Def give me Williams or Walker. 

Fir Off give me Tmac or Warren

Either way, I would love to trade down a bit, 8-10 spots and pick up another 2nd. 

 

I am not anti-Williams. I just think he is just never going be to an elite pass rush guy. IMO, that makes him a tough sell at 8.

Late 1st, all in.

[Martin]

On 3/13/2025 at 5:34 PM, Basbear said:

 

 

 

 

 

This is what I heard from a trusted "evaluator". He said Shemars tape is filled up with him beating 1 vs 1.  Then he has huge problems getting to the QB. You know the "hoop" drill where the player runs around two hoops and picks up a towel *while remaining low... places the towel back down and runs off. He didn't showcase that and this is his problem, he has no "bend" or ability to turn corners while in a lower posture. Can it be taught, yes. It's an odd deal given his profile, he shouldn't struggle with this, just happens that's the issue. Take it or not. 

Everyone but Carter and hunter has a major flaw/needs to work. 

Thanks for sharing, this is super interesting and odd at the same time. A super athletic player that can’t do those things. Wouldn’t that have shown in any of the drills at the combine? If not they are clearly missing some drills.

[Basbear]

3 hours ago, Martin said:

Thanks for sharing, this is super interesting and odd at the same time. A super athletic player that can’t do those things. Wouldn’t that have shown in any of the drills at the combine? If not they are clearly missing some drills.

 

That's part of the deal, Shemer didn't do any of the drills. All he did was measurables stuff-

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/shemar-stewart/32005354-4580-1492-6181-fbdcbaa932bc

 

Some players are straight line players, but the field is 53.3 yards wide. That side2side movement is just as  important if not more. Remember Taylor Mays and vernon gholston, they were super athletic *in a one direction ala north south, but football is played east and west too. Taylor did the same thing as Shemar, he skipped the 3 cone and  20-Yard Shuttle. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Mays

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Gholston

Its rare but there are clear cases. One rando thought was, put Shemar at NT.....but then the I recalled his weight. If the QB knows a player struggles turning corners, all it takes is two steps left or right and you're finished. For a edge, that ability to "bend" its nearly as important as your hands. It does answer Shemars lack of sacks/stats. 

[Martin]

1 hour ago, Basbear said:

 

That's part of the deal, Shemer didn't do any of the drills. All he did was measurables stuff-

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/shemar-stewart/32005354-4580-1492-6181-fbdcbaa932bc

 

Some players are straight line players, but the field is 53.3 yards wide. That side2side movement is just as  important if not more. Remember Taylor Mays and vernon gholston, they were super athletic *in a one direction ala north south, but football is played east and west too. Taylor did the same thing as Shemar, he skipped the 3 cone and  20-Yard Shuttle. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Mays

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Gholston

Its rare but there are clear cases. One rando thought was, put Shemar at NT.....but then the I recalled his weight. If the QB knows a player struggles turning corners, all it takes is two steps left or right and you're finished. For an edge, that ability to "bend" its nearly as important as your hands. It does answer Shemars lack of sacks/stats. 

That makes a lot of sense, I didn’t realize he didn’t do the drills, I thought he aced those as well. Thanks again for sharing. I was all in on Shemar before this tbh.

[Icege]

I took a look at last year's visits/meetings and noticed a couple of things:

• Of the seven players selected, the first four had all met with the team at some point during the draft process.
• Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M was the last player the Panthers interviewed to be drafted. He went #152 to the Eagles. The Panthers took Chau Smith-Wade just five selections later at #157.
• Blake Larson, OT, Augustana (SD) was the only player that the team interviewed and wasn't drafted. He was interviewed at an all-star game (ie: Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, etc).
• Brooks, Wallace, and Sanders were all top-30 visits.
• XL the team met at an all-star game as well as had a local visit with him.

 

[Bear Hands]

On 3/14/2025 at 7:38 AM, kungfoodude said:

Mykel Williams is very unlikely to ever be an elite pass rusher, IMO. He also seems far more suited to being a 4-3 end than an EDGE in our scheme.

For those reasons, I would be disappointed to see that as the pick at 8. I can stomach it as a trade down scenario.

He’s the one guy in the draft I don’t want, so we’ll probably end up getting him.

He was wildly wildly ineffective at times and has no pass rush plan or nuance to his game. At least others with low stats showed for it upon further review, but Mykel is bad eye test and microscope and screams bust to me. And it’s not like he’s elite against the run, he’s very good against the run.  But so should most DLs in the 1st round. 

[joeyxfresco]

https://x.com/underdog__nfl/status/1901689212803449337?s=46&t=FxigElzZ2iW4B_s6iHHeAg
 

Tet just ran a better than expected 40