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Carolina Panthers NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

Jack McKessy   Paste BN
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The Carolina Panthers hold a top-10 pick along with eight other selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. How will they use those picks?

Among the Panthers' team needs are several spots on defense. Carolina allowed the most points in a single season in league history in 2024, a feat aided by their 32nd-place finish (last) in total offensive yards allowed and expected points added (EPA) per play allowed.

In addition to defensive needs, the Panthers could afford to help out quarterback Bryce Young with more playmakers on offense after Young put together an improved sophomore campaign.

Here's what to know about the Panthers' draft position and needs ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:

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Panthers 2025 NFL Draft picks

The Panthers have nine picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here's where they are:

  • Round 1, Pick 8: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: He’s become something of a polarizing prospect in recent months given questions about his speed and, perhaps, commitment to the game. But there’s no denying his size (6-4, 219) or production (174 grabs for more than 2,700 yards since 2023). And third-year QB Bryce Young, who righted his personal ship in the second half of last season, now has a nice group of complementary wideouts to work with – McMillan joining veteran Adam Thielen and explosive 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette.

  • Round 2, Pick 8 (from Denver): Nic Scourton, edge, Texas A&M

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: He had 17 sacks and 31 TFLs in three seasons spent between the Aggies and Purdue. Down to 6-3 and 257 pounds, Scourton will likely shift to outside linebacker for a Panthers team that needs more defensive juice. Jadeveon Clowney, 32, is the only player on this roster who generated more than a dozen pressures in 2024 – and just 22.

  • Round 3, Pick 77 (from ATL through NE): Princely Umanmielen, edge, Ole Miss

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: The Panthers enlist a pass rusher who had 10 1/2 sacks and 14 TFLs in 2024. At 6-4, 244 pounds, Umanmielen’s lean frame may relegate him to sub packages at first.

  • Round 4, Pick 114 overall (from Dallas): Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
  • Round 4, Pick 122 (from Denver): Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
  • Round 5, Pick 140 (from New York Giants): Cam Jackson, DT, Florida
  • Round 5, Pick 163 (from Baltimore): Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
  • Round 6, Pick 208 (from Denver via Philadelphia): Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado

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Panthers 2025 NFL Draft needs

Edge rusher

According to ESPN, Carolina ranked 31st and 32nd in pass-rush and run-stop win rates, respectively, in 2024. Their sack leaders were A'Shawn Robinson and Jadeveon Clowney, who tied with 5.5 sacks. The Panthers ranked 30th in team sacks last year with 32 as a team – only the Falcons and Patriots had fewer. Getting a talented edge rusher on the roster for 2025 is an essential need for Carolina to improve its league-worst defense.

Wide receiver

Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette both had solid rookie seasons, and veteran Adam Thielen had a very productive back half of the year. But Thielen will be 35 at the start of the 2025 season, and both he and Coker challenged Carolina's receiver depth when they missed several weeks in 2024. Young could use another dynamic playmaker to take another step forward in his development after a strong back half of his own last year.

Safety

The Panthers have three safeties on the roster as of the time of writing. At worst, they need more depth at the position. At best, they could get a nice talent upgrade with the right pick in the draft.

Panthers 2025 NFL mock draft

Here's how the Panthers' picks could go in this year's draft, according to Paste BN Sports' Ayrton Ostly:

  • Round 1 – No. 8: Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
    • Coach Dave Canales has spoken about upgrading the defense and Stewart is one of the best athletes on the edge seen in recent years. He needs time to develop but has the traits to be a building block for the future.
  • Round 2 – No. 57: DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
    • Sanders' power, hands and core strength means he rarely hits the ground. His burst off the line and hand usage give him the makings of an impact pass rusher.
  • Round 3 – No. 74: CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
  • Round 4 – No. 111: S Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
  • Round 4 – No. 114: LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
  • Round 5 – No. 140: IOL Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
  • Round 5 – No. 146: WR Tai Felton, Maryland
  • Round 5 – No. 163: Edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
  • Round 7 – No. 230: TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

2025 NFL Draft: Every team's picks

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