2025 Panthers Draft Class - Overview

[LinvilleGorge]

Overall I'm happy. We've never drafted a receiver this high and that's probably a big part of the reason why we've only had one elite tier level WR in franchise history.

Scourton looked like top 10 pick material playing at a lighter weight then bulking up hurt his sack number while he overall still played well. We're going to play him at the lighter weight.

Princely is a guy a lot of folks were hot or cold on. Hopefully the hot folks were right. But he has NFL measurables, had double digit sacks last year, and most importantly to me he showed steady progression as a player throughout his college career. The arrow is pointing up.

Etienne surprised me. I wasn't expecting us to go RB this early but I think he's a solid compliment to Chuba and most of us expected us to draft a RB at some point in the mid to late rounds so it's not shocking.

I don't love the Ransom pick simply because he's not the type of safety I wanted us to draft. I wanted us to draft a deep coverage specialist. But, that's the type of safety the Panthers have never seemed to value and it doesn't seem like anything has changed there. It is what it is.

I didn't expect us to wait this long to add a DT in this strong DT draft but Cam Jackson was a guy we showed a lot of interest in throughout the pre-draft process so this clearly wasn't a panic move with DTs flying off the board. This is a guy we liked all along.

Mitchell Evans is a well rounded TE that probably projects as an NFL backup which is fine at this point in the draft. Like Etienne, he's another guy with an elite 10 yard split time. What he lacks in downfield ability he makes up for in initial suddenness. That can end up being a lot more important on a football field than deep speed.

Horn seems like a guy added at least as much for his return ability as his receiving ability. I like that for a late round pick. It gives a guy multiple paths to making the roster.

[tukafan21]

[WUnderhill]

Time will tell, but this seems like a home run draft as of right now. I don’t spend my time analyzing 200 prospects pre draft like some of you, but after learning more about these guys post draft these all make total sense and it seems like the team did an exceptional job matching BPA with areas of need.

Starting with Tmac, the team came into the draft needing a couple different types of receiver: a true X and a speedy vertical threat. Tmac is a true X receiver and the clear top dog of this receiving draft class. He is capable of being the X from day one with this team and will allow all the other receivers to fit into more natural roles and play to their strengths. Just a truly perfect fit that changes the whole receiving corps.

Scourton I think is capable of being a 3 down OLB/Edge right out of the gate, though as of right now I see him in more of a rotation with Clowney still on the roster, which is a great spot to be in. He plays the run well and has a couple really good pass rush moves (a spin and a chop) that he can rely on while he develops his full tool kit. I’ve seen some speculation that his busy hands could lead to some increased penalties early in his career so that could be something to watch but overall I’d rather have a guy who has to learn a little more restraint than a guy who has to learn to work and fight harder.

Umanmielen is a taller, leaner Edge who I have seen described as very bendy. He should be able to contribute right away on pass rush downs and has the frame to fill out and develop a little more strength against the run.

I was originally a little disappointed in the Etienne pick as I know many on the Huddle were as well. Part of it for me is just philosophical in that I’d rather just draft o-linemen every single year and make sure that depth is always refreshed with the knowledge that even bad running backs can look good behind an excellent OL. But, after learning more about Etienne’s game, I get it and he seems to compliment our RB room very well. It sounds like he will be the best receiving back on our roster day 1 while also adding value on special teams. I also like that he has relatively low mileage from college. I think this is where it is helpful to not be tied to pre draft mocks and big boards because this and especially late round picks in general the teams just maybe valuing completely different things. So if you liked x running back better, you may be right and that might be a better running back from a pure run the ball standpoint, but that guy may have been a completely wasted pick for our team and what we were looking for. Etienne seems like a very complimentary back for our roster.

The TE (Mitchell Evans or Evan Mitchell I forget which) also seems like a great compliment to our current TE room with a lot of upside. He is more of a true inline TE than either Tremble or Sanders (especially Sanders), and should be a great combo with Sanders for years to come. His 2024 season he was returning from a torn ACL and his production increased as the year went on so we may have gotten a total steal here.

Ransom I know may have some redundancy in skill set with Moehrig, but it’s late in the draft you just have to go BPA and realize we are more than likely drafting backups at this point.

Love the 5th round DT, just a huge body run stuffer. It’s late round and size plays. And the 6th round WR is just another skill set that we needed more of in the WR room who can play special teams.

All in all, I love this draft. Sure, it would have been nice to add another CB, or a free safety, or an OT or Center, but you can’t realistically do everything in one draft. I thought they did a good job sticking with BPA, making moves when necessary to secure highly rated players with high emphasis on doing that in earlier rounds when it mattered most, while also getting guys who could fit specific roles that we needed. It felt like they had a very good feel and understanding of how the draft was playing out and when runs would start happening as there were a couple times (Scourton and Etienne I noticed very clearly) that the team got ahead and selected the player at the beginning of the position runs.

A+ from me.

[Bear Hands]

9 minutes ago, WUnderhill said:

Time will tell, but this seems like a home run draft as of right now. I don’t spend my time analyzing 200 prospects pre draft like some of you, but after learning more about these guys post draft these all make total sense and it seems like the team did an exceptional job matching BPA with areas of need.

Starting with Tmac, the team came into the draft needing a couple different types of receiver: a true X and a speedy vertical threat. Tmac is a true X receiver and the clear top dog of this receiving draft class. He is capable of being the X from day one with this team and will allow all the other receivers to fit into more natural roles and play to their strengths. Just a truly perfect fit that changes the whole receiving corps.

Scourton I think is capable of being a 3 down OLB/Edge right out of the gate, though as of right now I see him in more of a rotation with Clowney still on the roster, which is a great spot to be in. He plays the run well and has a couple really good pass rush moves (a spin and a chop) that he can rely on while he develops his full tool kit. I’ve seen some speculation that his busy hands could lead to some increased penalties early in his career so that could be something to watch but overall I’d rather have a guy who has to learn a little more restraint than a guy who has to learn to work and fight harder.

Umanmielen is a taller, leaner Edge who I have seen described as very bendy. He should be able to contribute right away on pass rush downs and has the frame to fill out and develop a little more strength against the run.

I was originally a little disappointed in the Etienne pick as I know many on the Huddle were as well. Part of it for me is just philosophical in that I’d rather just draft o-linemen every single year and make sure that depth is always refreshed with the knowledge that even bad running backs can look good behind an excellent OL. But, after learning more about Etienne’s game, I get it and he seems to compliment our RB room very well. It sounds like he will be the best receiving back on our roster day 1 while also adding value on special teams. I also like that he has relatively low mileage from college. I think this is where it is helpful to not be tied to pre draft mocks and big boards because this and especially late round picks in general the teams just maybe valuing completely different things. So if you liked x running back better, you may be right and that might be a better running back from a pure run the ball standpoint, but that guy may have been a completely wasted pick for our team and what we were looking for. Etienne seems like a very complimentary back for our roster.

The TE (Mitchell Evans or Evan Mitchell I forget which) also seems like a great compliment to our current TE room with a lot of upside. He is more of a true inline TE than either Tremble or Sanders (especially Sanders), and should be a great combo with Sanders for years to come. His 2024 season he was returning from a torn ACL and his production increased as the year went on so we may have gotten a total steal here.

Ransom I know may have some redundancy in skill set with Moehrig, but it’s late in the draft you just have to go BPA and realize we are more than likely drafting backups at this point.

Love the 5th round DT, just a huge body run stuffer. It’s late round and size plays. And the 6th round WR is just another skill set that we needed more of in the WR room who can play special teams.

All in all, I love this draft. Sure, it would have been nice to add another CB, or a free safety, or an OT or Center, but you can’t realistically do everything in one draft. I thought they did a good job sticking with BPA, making moves when necessary to secure highly rated players with high emphasis on doing that in earlier rounds when it mattered most, while also getting guys who could fit specific roles that we needed. It felt like they had a very good feel and understanding of how the draft was playing out and when runs would start happening as there were a couple times (Scourton and Etienne I noticed very clearly) that the team got ahead and selected the player at the beginning of the position runs.

A+ from me.

Nice good stuff

[Jackofalltrades]

5 hours ago, Bear Hands said:

Figured to group all the picks in one place ...  

Great work, thanks!

[Panthers Rhule]

I've never read this many positive posts in a row, after a draft before around here. Thanks guys for all of your wonderful posts. I'm starting to feel a sense of community around here. I like it. I thought the draft was great overall. I'm sure a couple won't pan out and maybe a couple of more won't stay with us long term that's the way it goes but this draft makes a ton of sense to me and I like what we did with what we had. I'm actually impressed with this draft. 

We faked everyone with our first pick. We traded up for practically free on day 2. No one we drafted stands out as a reach to me. The day 3 picks, very player does at least 2 things well at their position and to me that makes them more likely to be at least depth pieces and if that happens than this will be the best draft in our history. 

We're loaded with young offensive weapons now. If we can continue to be patient and let these guys grow and develop we have the potential makings of an organization here. I believe in Canales and I'm starting to think management gets it now too. I didn't hear from Teppers and our GM is a stone cold bad ass and says nothing. I'm loving it. 

 

Edited April 28 by Panthers Rhule

[Panthers Rhule]

Also, one last thing. Our off season moves on defense will have a huge impact coupled with our draft picks there. I believe in Evero. He's proven his defense can be good and it's an evolution of Fangio's defense so we know it can work but it needs the right type of players and we made big strides in that direction. It's still behind the offense at this point I think but I expect major improvement on that side of the ball as well. 

Edited April 28 by Panthers Rhule

[jfra78]

8 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

I've never read this many positive posts in a row, after a draft before around here. Thanks guys for all of your wonderful posts. I'm starting to feel a sense of community around here. I like it. I thought the draft was great overall. I'm sure a couple won't pan out and maybe a couple of more won't stay with us long term that's the way it goes but this draft makes a ton of sense to me and I like what we did with what we had. I'm actually impressed with this draft. 

We faked everyone with our first pick. We traded up for practically free on day 2. No one we drafted stands out as a reach to me. The day 3 picks, very player does at least 2 things well at their position and to me that makes them more likely to be at least depth pieces and if that happens than this will be the best draft in our history. 

We're loaded with young offensive weapons now. If we can continue to be patient and let these guys grow and develop we have the potential makings of an organization here. I believe in Canales and I'm starting to think management gets it now too. I didn't hear from Teppers and our GM is a stone cold bad ass and says nothing. I'm loving it. 

 

Don't worry,  there are posters here that wont be happy no matter who the Panthers draft

[UnluckyforSome]

Could be worse.

https://catcrave.com/nfl-analysts-confirm-panthers-gm-dan-morgan-committed-draft-larceny

 

[PNW_PantherMan]

Time will tell on how the players pan out, but the process seemed much better this time.  Dan Morgan won a lot of points with me for this draft.  The man may actually know what he's doing.

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Time will tell on how the players pan out, but the process seemed much better this time.  Dan Morgan won a lot of points with me for this draft.  The man may actually know what he's doing.

I have been a critic of morgan but for this draft at least it seemed he understood the value of pics and trading a bit better then last year

[Captain Morgan]

starting to think we got the steal of the draft....had no idea about the weigh gain, which I thought was because TAM asked him to play heavier.  But he sounds so serious about being in the right shape and working hard.  I watched his tape from his previous team and he looked like a demon.

and love his attitude

[PadresPanthersFan]

27 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I have been a critic of morgan but for this draft at least it seemed he understood the value of pics and trading a bit better then last year

Tbf while the trade up for brooks has thus far been a blunder he did steal a 2nd round pick this year from the Rams that turned into scourton

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, PadresPanthersFan said:

Tbf while the trade up for brooks has thus far been a blunder he did steal a 2nd round pick this year from the Rams that turned into scourton

Not sure you can call it a steal as they got a good potentially great player with that pick