The draft picks have been made, and the undrafted prospects reportedly signed. Now, it's time for each of them to begin their quest to impose themselves on the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina's annual rookie minicamp is being held over the next two days (May 9-10). This won't make or break their aspirations of making the 53-man roster or practice squad, but these first-year pros only get one opportunity to make a solid early impression.
Some come into the Panthers with higher profiles than others. That comes through college production, draft status, and hype within the media. But make no mistake, everyone is starting with a clean slate.
It doesn't matter where you're drafted at the end of the day. It matters what every player does when they get into a professional environment. And looking at the way Dan Morgan and Dave Canales have approached their roster construction, those who perform well will be rewarded accordingly.
With this in mind, here are five first-year Panthers under pressure to stand out during their rookie minicamp in 2025.
First-year Panthers under pressure to stand out at rookie minicamp
Jimmy Horn Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
The Carolina Panthers spent their final selection of the 2025 NFL Draft on another pass-catching weapon for quarterback Bryce Young, which is how their process started. Jimmy Horn Jr. was the pick at No. 208 overall, which brings some intrigue despite his lack of prototypical size.
Scheming things up to maximize Horn's skill set is crucial. He's a firecracker with the football in his hands, boasting elusiveness in tight windows and enough speed to break off big yardage in the open field. The former Colorado standout plays with aggressiveness and toughness in equal measure, which could see him become a fan favorite in no time.
It's a pretty crowded wide receiver room all of a sudden. Several appear ahead of Horn on the depth chart currently, but that could change quickly if the pass-catcher showcases his value as preparations for the upcoming campaign gather pace. If the sixth-round pick can build some early momentum throughout Carolina's two-day rookie minicamp, that'll be a solid foundation to build when it's time to link up with the veteran players shortly.
Horn won't be taking anything for granted. He got some decent preparation from Deion Sanders and his star-studded coaching staff in Colorado about what it takes to succeed in the pros. Performing well at Carolina's rookie minicamp would be a good place to start.
Ryan Fitzgerald - Carolina Panthers PK
The life of a kicker is among the NFL's most precarious. Fortunes can enhance rapidly or disintegrate in the blink of an eye. That makes Ryan Fitzgerald's early production something to monitor as he goes in search of winning the starting job in 2025.
Those in power believe Fitzgerald could have something to offer. The Carolina Panthers moved swiftly to sign the former Florida State standout once the draft concluded. This also represents a fantastic landing spot for the player upon closer examination of the team's kicking situation.
Eddy Pineiro wasn't brought back after an inconsistent campaign in 2024. The Panthers penned veteran Matthew Wright to a one-year deal in free agency. This doesn't come with any guarantees regarding his status, so Fitzgerald must prove worthy enough to embark on a genuine competition over the summer.
This is something the Panthers tried last offseason. Harrison Mevis came in and seized the moment as Pineiro sat out. The rookie's exceptional transition forced the veteran back into the fold, and it wasn't long before the undrafted player was let go.
Fitzgerald will be hoping to avoid a similar fate. He made 100 percent of his kicks with the Seminoles last season and 97.8% of his extra points over five years, so confidence is high. But as with most kickers looking to make their way, there is almost no margin for error.
Cam Jackson - Carolina Panthers DL
The Panthers spent considerable resources on improving their defensive front this offseason. Dan Morgan spent huge sums in free agency to acquire Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. Carolina wasn't going to settle, not when there was such a rich group of college prospects to examine with nine picks at the general manager's disposal.
When the opportunity to acquire Cam Jackson presented itself at No. 140 overall, Morgan didn't hesitate. This represents another massive body for the defensive trenches, although this will likely be from a development project standpoint and a run-stuffing specialist initially.
Carolina now has two legitimate nose tackles for Ejiro Evero's 3-4 defensive scheme. After two years of deploying Shy Tuttle as the front's anchor, this represents a refreshing change of pace that fans have been clamoring for.
Jackson goes into a deep group of defensive linemen. Competition increased, and the standards were raised over the offseason. This will make everyone better, so the former Florida game-wrecker needs to hit the ground running en route to imposing his will.
The Panthers see something in Jackson. The likes of Tuttle, A'Shawn Robinson, Jaden Crumedy, and LaBryan Ray won't be giving up without a fight, so displaying dominance from the moment he steps onto the practice field is only going to aid his cause.
Trevor Etienne - Carolina Panthers RB
The Carolina Panthers signed Rico Dowdle and released underperforming veteran Miles Sanders to shake up their running back room this offseason. This represents an upgrade, but Jonathon Brooks' injury status dictated another arrival from a deep group of prospects emerging from the college ranks.
Dan Morgan rightfully resisted the temptation early in the process. There was value available lower down the pecking order, which the Panthers secured by taking Trevor Etienne at No. 114 overall.
Etienne had some slight injury worries in college, but nothing that overly concerned the Panthers. The three-year player at Florida and Georgia boasts some likable traits as a dual-threat force. He's not the most explosive, but his patience and on-field vision should be enough to carve out a successful NFL journey for himself.
Getting off to a strong start is crucial. Dave Canales wants to run the football heavily to take the pressure off quarterback Bryce Young. Chuba Hubbard and Dowdle can shoulder the load, but Etienne represents a nice change-of-pace option capable of providing pass-catching assistance if he transitions seamlessly.
With 2,086 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in three seasons, coupled with 62 receptions for 432 receiving yards and another score, there's a good chance Etienne can meet expectations and then some.
Jacolby George - Carolina Panthers WR
As previously mentioned, the Panthers have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position if their young guns all develop accordingly. For someone like Jacolby George, that makes it difficult to stake a claim.
That doesn't mean he won't. The Panthers gave George more guaranteed money on his deal than he would have received as a sixth-round selection. That speaks volumes regarding their hopes for the player and how eager they were to get him into the building.
George picked up performance levels over his final two years at Miami. He emerged as a solid route runner and a dangerous yards after the catch threat. He's got adequate speed and displays sharpness out of his cuts. Even so, improving his play strength and removing concentration issues regarding drops when the margins get finer is crucial.
The Panthers seem confident that improvements can arrive quickly with professional coaching. George won't be lacking confidence after the financial outlay provided by Carolina. He was a hotly coveted undrafted free agent, but that won't mean much if he cannot catch the eye early.
Making the practice squad should be the floor for George. If everything goes better than anticipated, he might be this summer's version of Jalen Coker when push comes to shove.