Panthers 2025 NFL mock draft: Early trades lead to big hauls on both sides of ball
The 2025 NFL Draft is less than two months away.
And while free agency will need to wait a little bit longer (it officially begins March 12 at 4 p.m.), draft speculation has run rampant since the conclusion of last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
What will general manager Dan Morgan and his band of front office execs do in April? Could they trade down to get more value for the No. 8 pick in the first round? Is there a position they’ll double dip on during draft weekend?
The Observer sought to answer those questions in a mock-draft projection.
Below is a seven-round mock draft for the Panthers. (Note: The Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator was used to conduct this projection):
Panthers mock draft: First-round trade lands big return
With Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan, and Colorado two-way playmaker Travis Hunter all off the board, Morgan decides to see who is ready to make a deal.
The Panthers have several options still on the board, but in this scenario, they are all similarly graded. Carolina can still land a Day 1 starter with a trade back here.
So, the Panthers make a deal with the Dallas Cowboys for the second time since November. In the swap, the Cowboys trade up to No. 8 in exchange for No. 12 (first-round pick), No. 76 (third-round pick), No. 150 (fifth-round pick), and No. 189 (sixth-round pick).
The Panthers now have 12 total picks to spend on draft weekend before turning in a single card.
First round pick (12th overall via Dallas): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Panthers took a chance and still ended up with a prospect that a lot of teams probably had as a top-10 player in the draft.
Johnson, listed as 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, has great size and length at the position. Johnson is coming off a season-ending toe injury and didn’t run at the combine as a result. However, that workout absence led to him falling a bit outside of his projected range.
Johnson produced nine interceptions across three seasons with the Wolverines. He comes from a winning program and is a strong fit for Ejiro Evero’s zone-heavy scheme. Like current Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, Johnson has the ability to match up against top wide receivers and make plays on the ball.
If Mike Jackson, a pending unrestricted free agent, heads elsewhere, Johnson would be a logical addition as a No. 2 cornerback to pair with Horn for years to come. And even if Jackson re-signs to a team-friendly deal, Johnson could help upgrade the secondary through competition, with Horn or Johnson potentially moving into the slot in the nickel package.
Trade up in second round helps Panthers’ waiting game
The Panthers come into the draft owning the Los Angeles Rams’ No. 57 pick in the second round. But even if they trade back in the first round just a smidgen, it’s still a pretty long wait between picks No. 1 and No. 2. So, Morgan starts working the phones again.
Morgan offers the No. 57 pick (second round) and the No. 113 pick (a fourth-rounder acquired in the November trade of Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys) for the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 47 pick in the second round.
The two sides agree to let the Panthers trade up, while Carolina tosses a notable Day 3 pick to Arizona for the privilege.
Second round pick (47th overall via Arizona): Alfred Collins, DL, Texas
The Panthers have been pretty upfront about their needs, um, upfront on defense. The Panthers couldn’t stop the run last year, and the expectation is that they’ll make several moves in the front seven to improve that area of the defense.
Enter Alfred Collins. The 6-6, 336-pound defensive lineman is an imposing force who can stop the run inside. He can easily slip between A’Shawn Robinson and Derrick Brown on early downs as a nose tackle with good size and length. He can also provide insurance for Robinson and Brown at defensive end in odd fronts as well.
While he’s not known as a pass rusher, he did produce 8.5 sacks in five seasons with the Longhorns. He was also known for batting passes at the line of scrimmage at Texas.
Third round (74th overall): Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Yes, the offense could use some help, too. After going with two defensive upgrades with the first two picks, Morgan decides to upgrade the offense with a pick at tight end.
While Carolina has largely struggled with Day 2 picks from LSU in recent years, Taylor is an ideal prospect for Dave Canales’ offense. Taylor has playmaking ability as a pass-catcher and upside as a blocker. His NFL ties — he’s the son of Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor and nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas — are also appealing.
Taylor, listed as 6-5 and 251 pounds, can team with Ja’Tavion Sanders — and possibly a returning Tommy Tremble — to help evolve an important depth chart on offense.
Third round (76th overall via Dallas): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
The Panthers need speed at the wide receiver position. While they are likely to get some of that needed speed from free agency, Noel brings a deep-threat nature to the wide receiver room.
Known mostly for his work in the slot, Noel could also play outside as well. He’s also a pretty talented returner on special teams, giving Canales and the coaching staff several avenues for value on game day.
Last season, Noel caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns. The 22-year-old playmaker could be an effective complement to Adam Thielen, while also serving as his heir apparent. Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker could work the outside long term with Noel being a key contributor in the slot for years to come.
Bryce Young needs someone who can get open and break free for yards after the catch. Noel has proven he can do that at the college level.
Day 3: Panthers reinforce edge depth chart, add more to offense
Fourth round (110th overall): Barryn Sorrell, OLB, Texas
The Panthers are forced to wait for pass rushers because of the way the board fell following two early trades. After (probably) adding to the position in free agency, the fan base will be feel somewhat OK with this waiting game, as the draft class is deep at the position.
Still, they land Sorrell, who ran one of the best 3-cone drill times — a relatively consistent indicator of pass-rushing potential — in Indianapolis at 7.06 seconds. That’s an outstanding time for a 6-3, 256-pound pass rusher.
Sorrell also produced 18 sacks during his final three years at Texas.
The Panthers took Texas alums in the second and fourth rounds in 2024. They’ll do the same in this exercise, though not on purpose.
Fifth round (141st overall via NYG): Oluwafemi Oladejo, OLB, UCLA
If the Panthers are looking for a long-term Frankie Luvu replacement, Oladejo could fit the bill.
The former inside linebacker moved to outside linebacker during his college career following a transfer from Cal to UCLA, and he eventually produced. While Oladejo is still learning the nuances of his primary position, perhaps the Panthers could look make him more a hybrid defender based on his background.
Oladejo had 4.5 sacks as a senior.
Fifth round (147th overall): Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Canales said at the combine that he preferred to have developmental wide receivers who can play on special teams. Williams, a punt returner in college, has the speed to excel in the third phase. He also could become a deep-threat contributor in specific packages.
The Panthers are unlikely to re-sign running back Raheem Blackshear after he barely touched the ball on offense in 2024. A league source confirmed to The Observer that the team doesn’t plan to tender the pending restricted free agent.
Williams, along with competing at wide receiver, could fill Blackshear’s void on special teams in the return game.
Fifth round (150th overall via DAL): Upton Stout, DB, Western Kentucky
The Panthers are expected to give their safety room a facelift in 2025. While they’ll almost certainly spend big dollars on the position in free agency, they’ll also address the position in the draft. If the Panthers sign a big name like Jevon Holland or Tre’von Moehrig and re-sign Xavier Woods, look for them to use Day 3 to upgrade the depth at the position.
Stout is on the smaller side (5-8, 181 lbs.) but he has good speed (4.4-second 40-yard dash) and quality playmaking skills (six interceptions in his final three college seasons). He could also compete at the nickel position if the Panthers want Chau Smith-Wade to be pushed this summer.
Fifth round (164th overall via BAL): Jordan James, RB, Oregon
The Panthers will need at least two new running backs behind Chuba Hubbard this season. While a decision hasn’t been made on Miles Sanders just yet, the Panthers could use a replacement or upgrade of Blackshear, as well as overall long-term depth at the position.
James has a pass-catching resume, and he comes from another strong college program. The 5-9, 205-pound running back is a physical runner, who can also make plays on third down. With or without Sanders, James makes sense for the Panthers’ backfield.
Sixth round (189th overall via DAL): Brady Cook, QB, Missouri
With so many additional draft picks, why not take a swing at the most important position in sports on Day 3?
Cook is an excellent athlete at the QB position, and he could be an heir apparent to Andy Dalton during the span of his rookie contract. The league wants to cost control the QB position in the NFL, and Cook could help them check that box in time for Young’s potential contract extension down the road.
At worst, Cook is a worthwhile gamble. The 6-2, 214-pound QB can win with his arm and his legs, and he has upside worth exploring late in the draft.
Seventh round (229th overall via AZ): Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
While this might be a good spot to select a kicker, the Panthers decide instead to roll the dice on size at offensive tackle. Pierce is a mountain of a human being. He had an up-and-down performance at the Shrine Bowl, but he also seems to have the raw tools worth spending a late-round lottery ticket on.
With Ikem Ekwonu still looking to prove himself and Taylor Moton entering the final year of his deal, it might be time for the Panthers to get creative with their long-term insurance. This 6-8, 341-pound prospect could do the trick, especially with good coaching.
