Panthers mock draft roundup 5.0: Tracking the latest 2025 projections
We're sure you're all having fun tuning in to this year's "Underwear Olympics," which got off to a pretty hot start on Thursday. But before we finish up in Indianapolis, let's take a bit of inventory on the first-round projections for your Carolina Panthers.
Here are the returns from the latest mock drafts for the eighth overall selection . . .
Pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Author: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Take: General manager Dan Morgan said the priority for this offseason would be rebuilding the defensive line in a manner comparable to the approach the team took in overhauling its offensive front last spring. Yet a group that ranked 31st in ESPN's pass-rush win rate metric might need to generate pressure in whatever form that's within reach. That might mean rolling the dice on Walker, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound disruptor who might need to be deployed creatively but should keep blockers on their toes as both an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker.
Pick: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Author: Bucky Brooks
Take: Pairing the Michigan standout, who has a low-leverage playing style and exceptional strength, with Derrick Brown would give the Panthers a formidable point-of-attack presence.
Pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Author: Mel Kiper Jr.
Take: This has to be defense, right? Carolina ranked last in yards allowed per play at 6.0 this past season. News broke Monday that the Panthers won't re-sign linebacker Shaq Thompson, and they didn't have a single edge rusher with six or more sacks in 2024. Walker can play either of those spots at a high level. Explosion is the word that comes to mind with his game, as he fires off the ball to make plays both as a pass rusher and a run defender. He had 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss in his final season at Georgia.
Pick: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Author: Ryan Wilson
Take: Georgia has a history of producing insane athletes and Mykel Williams might end up being the best of the group. He's a first-round talent all day long, and he could end up being one of the first defenders off the board in April.
Pick: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Author: Jordan Plocher
Take: A pass rusher would be a logical choice for the Panthers here, but helping Bryce Young continue to develop takes priority. Selecting McMillan gives Carolina's offense more versatility and firepower, providing Young with another reliable weapon as he enters his third season. After showing tremendous progress in the back half of 2024, Young will benefit greatly from an improved supporting cast.
Pick: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Author: Charles McDonald
Take: The Panthers' defense simply lacks needle-moving players in 2024, especially after an injury to Derrick Brown. Williams had an inconsistent year as he also battled injuries in 2024. He still showed glimpses and stretches that makes his upside as high as anybody in this draft. He might take time, but the Panthers have it, and Williams could end up being a real difference-maker if he keeps adding more technique to his natural talent.
Pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Author: Luke Easterling
Take: This roster needs just about everything, so the Panthers need to prioritize overall talent and playmaking ability here, regardless of position. That should point them to the defensive in this scenario, where they need both a three-down linebacker who can create splash plays off the ball, and a dynamic edge rusher who can get after the quarterback. Walker is a versatile weapon who can check all of those boxes.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers mock draft roundup 5.0: Tracking the latest 2025 projections
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