NFL Draft 2025: Panthers prioritize all-star games. Shrine Bowl has a ton of talent
The Carolina Panthers’ offseason plan will begin to take shape over the next few weeks, as the 2025 NFL Draft process will hit its first two notable stops on the calendar with the major college all-star games.
The East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl were both very good to the Panthers in 2024. General manager Dan Morgan, during his first offseason at the helm, selected six players from the two all-star games with his seven draft picks. All six players from the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl made the roster and contributed in 2024.
The team also signed several undrafted rookies from the two games, with Shrine Bowl alums like Jalen Coker, Demani Richardson and Jack Plummer sticking with the team throughout the season.
With that in mind, The Observer will head to Frisco, Texas, where the annual Shrine Bowl will host its week of practices. The Panthers are likely to pay close attention to those workouts, and while the game doesn’t house all the top talent in the draft, Carolina is likely to add a few prospects from the showcase.
As an added bonus, Panthers special teams assistant coach Daren Bates — who, as The Observer first reported, will assist in a heightened capacity with the East team — will get an up-close look at the prospects during the week.
The Observer will be keeping a close eye on the following 10 prospects during the all-star practices in Texas:
2025 Shrine Bowl: The top talent
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
While the Panthers won’t be looking for top QB talent in the all-star game, Sanders — the top offensive name in Frisco — will hopefully be dealing out passes to wideouts all week long. Sanders, along with his brother, Shilo, and several other Colorado alums, were invited to the game, and they’ll be the headliners of sorts for the 100th incarnation of the college all-star matchup. Sheduer is going to be a major draw for national media, and that’s a good thing for the rest of the talent pool, as it could get them noticed even more due to the heavy presences from both the league and the analyst world.
Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan
The Panthers clearly have a need (or three) in their front seven this offseason. Grant is the Pro Football Focus’s 19th overall prospect, and he is considered the top overall player heading into the week of work. Grant is a massive man (6-foot-3, 339 lbs.), who can stop the run, and boy, do the Panthers need a guy like that. If the Panthers were to trade back from their eighth overall pick to collect some draft capital, Grant could be a target in the teens. If he has a great week of work, maybe he can boost himself into the top 10 selections.
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
With Mike Jackson set to hit free agency, the Panthers could have a need at cornerback opposite Jaycee Horn. Revel, a former small-school standout, shined at ECU over the past two seasons. The 6-3, 193-pound cornerback has good length for the outside cornerback spot, and like Grant, he could be a trade-back option for the Panthers in the first round. Tall, lanky corners are preferred by both Morgan and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Revel broke out in 2023 with 13 pass breakups in 12 games. Last season, he produced two interceptions, despite being limited to just three games due to a torn ACL. While Revel isn’t likely to play or practice in Texas, his interviews during the process will be worth monitoring. Remember, the Panthers’ second-round pick, Jonathon Brooks, took a similar approach to his Shrine Game experience last year.
Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
With Revel not likely to participate in drills, Alexander will be the top name among the cornerbacks on the field in Texas. The 6-2, 194-pound cornerback was productive during his time with the Tigers, collecting 11 pass breakups and four interceptions over the past two years. While PFF currently has him as the site’s 72nd-ranked prospect, a strong week of work could push Alexander into the second-round range. Alexander fits the mold of cornerback the Panthers would probably target on Day 2.
2025 Shrine Bowl: Notable edge rushers
Tyler Baron, DE, Miami
Morgan’s alma mater will be well-represented in Frisco. Baron, though, is probably the top talent from the Hurricanes at the annual showcase. After spending his first four seasons at Tennessee, Baron transferred to Miami and collected 5.5 sacks in his final college campaign. During his five-year career, Baron produced 19 sacks and two forced fumbles. At 6-5 and 260 pounds, he could have the versatility to play defensive end or outside linebacker at the next level.
Que Robinson, OLB, Alabama
Robinson (6-5, 241 lbs.) seems like a logical fit for Evero’s 3-4 front, even if the scheme is tweaked a bit in 2025. Robinson was a role-playing rotational pass rusher for much of his Crimson Tide career, and he had a breakout season in 2024 with four sacks. Robinson likely won’t be selected until Day 2, but he could be an intriguing long-term addition to an outside linebacker rotation that is currently headlined by Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum.
2025 Shrine Bowl: Prospects with Carolina connections
Rocket Sanders, RB, South Carolina
Sanders transferred from Arkansas to South Carolina this past season. During his four-year college career, he posted 3,111 rushing yards, 771 receiving yards and 33 total touchdowns. With so much productivity on his resume, a strong week at the Shrine Bowl could serve as a cherry on the cake of his evaluation. Sanders could be a logical addition to the Panthers’ roster on Day 3 if he’s available after the third round.
Zeek Biggers, IDL, Georgia Tech
The Panthers are in search of people movers in the trenches. Biggers, a Salisbury native, could do just the trick as a late-round target. The 6-3, 363-pound lineman is boulder of a big guy, and he could look to clog holes between Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson if picked by Carolina.
Aaron Smith, ILB, South Carolina State
South Carolina State is known for producing strong front-seven talent in the NFL. Smith will look to add his name to that list. During his career, Smith collected 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in four seasons of play. He could be a late-round option for inside linebacker depth for the Panthers.
Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina
Hemingway is another prospect from the Panthers’ player factory that is South Carolina. The 6-foot-3, 288-pound defender played in 61 games during his five seasons with the Gamecocks. During that span, he produced 112 tackles (17.5 for loss), 9.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He could be a late-round option for the Panthers to add to the trench group.
Other prospects from Carolinas schools: Clemson RB Phil Mafah, South Carolina CB O’Donnell Fortune, UNC CB Aijah Huzzie, Clemson DB RJ Mickens, South Carolina P Kai Kroeger.
More to watch: Keep an eye on the specialists
With all three of the Panthers’ specialists set to hit free agency, Carolina will probably be paying attention to the kickers and punters in Texas. Bates will get to work with Miami kicker Andres Borregales and South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger during the week of work, and he will also coach against Pittsburgh kicker Ben Sauls and Oklahoma punter Luke Elzinga.
The 100th East-West Shrine Bowl game will be played at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 30, and air on NFL Network.
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
