14-04-2025
Panthers mock draft roundup 9.0: Tracking the latest 2025 projections
Panthers mock draft roundup 9.0: Tracking the latest 2025 projections
With the 2025 NFL draft now less than two weeks away, most folks seem to believe that there's one particular prospect who's a perfect match for the Carolina Panthers.
But perhaps predicting this year's eighth overall pick isn't really that simple.
Here is our latest mock draft roundup, which features six different players from six different scenarios . . .
Draft Wire
Pick: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Author: Jeff Risdon
Take: Stewart is a very tough draft nut to crack, as noted here. The Panthers are in a good spot to weigh the athletic reward over the (to this point) meager production risk.
Pick: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (Projected trade to No. 12 with Dallas Cowboys)
Author: Gennaro Filice
Take: Alignment versatility's all the rage among NFL pass catchers. Consequently, inside/outside ability's never been more valuable to NFL defenses. And that's exactly what Barron provides. Having just won the Jim Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back, the Texas product lined up all over the field as a starter for the last three seasons, deftly executing different techniques across myriad coverages. Then he put the cherry on top with a 4.39 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. Carolina just locked up CB1 Jaycee Horn through 2029. Jahdae can be the resourceful Robin to Jaycee's Batman.
ESPN
Pick: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
Author: Mel Kiper Jr.
Take: No change on my Panthers pick projection, as this makes it four mock drafts in a row for Walker to Carolina. He's an explosive defender with bend and versatility. I like him at off-ball linebacker -- he'd make plays all over the field for the Panthers with sideline-to-sideline speed. But he could absolutely rush off the edge, too; he had 6.5 sacks last season.
This Carolina defense was the worst in the NFL in yards allowed per play (6.0), yards allowed per rush (5.2), opponent QBR (64.8), points allowed per game (31.4) and opponent third-down rate (50.2%) last season. Walker would help no matter where he lines up.
The Athletic
Pick: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Author: Nick Baumgardner
Take: The tape tells the story with McMillan — and part of that story is that his less-than-stellar 40 time isn't that big a deal. McMillan was a man among children at times in college and has the ability to help Bryce Young and this young Panthers offense immediately.
CBS Sports
Pick: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Author: Chris Trapasso
Take: With Johnson and the newly minted Jaycee Horn, the Panthers would have two instinctive and athletic perimeter corners.
Yahoo Sports
Pick: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Author: Nate Tice
Take: Any defender makes sense for the Panthers, who trotted out one of the worst defensive units in the NFL last year. Williams' best football is ahead of him. He has the potential to be one of the best run stoppers in the league and has a developing pass rush arsenal. Williams should be a good contributor against the run right away as he works on other parts of the game, but most importantly there's not a lot of bad on Williams' tape. So even though he's a project in some ways, he's going to be still giving the Panthers winning reps as he hones in his talent.
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