The time has almost arrived. Dan Morgan and his staff are in the final stages of planning before the 2025 NFL Draft, which promises to be an enthralling occasion for fans as the latest group of college hopefuls take their chances at the next level.
Morgan has nine picks at his disposal and many needs to fill. The general manager made no secret that the Panthers were open for business regarding a trade-down from No. 8 overall. Whether he gets a willing suitor to come forward remains to be seen.
Carolina emphasized improving the defense in free agency. This was almost guaranteed after watching Ejiro Evero's woeful unit make headlines for the worst possible reasons in 2024. Most analysts believe the same trend will continue during the draft, but ignoring the options around quarterback Bryce Young entirely would be extremely foolish.
There's stability and hope surrounding the Panthers, arguably for the first time since team owner David Tepper bought the franchise from Jerry Richardson. Morgan must take advantage of both by navigating the draft successfully to give Carolina a fighting chance of securing a winning record when competitive action begins again.
Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we took a look at how the Panthers could approach the big event in our final seven-round mock draft of the 2025 cycle.
Final Carolina Panthers 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft
Carolina Panthers draft Mason Graham
- Defensive Line | Michigan Wolverines
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 8
The Carolina Panthers would need a little bit of luck. But there's a growing sense that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't the lock they once appeared to draft Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham.
This could put him squarely in play for the Panthers. It also represents arguably their best-case scenario, despite most around the league expecting the pick to be Georgia's hybrid edge rusher/linebacker Jalon Walker.
Dan Morgan invested heavily in the defensive trenches this offseason. Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III should be outstanding additions. A'Shawn Robinson and Shy Tuttle remain on the rotation. There's also the small matter of Pro Bowl lineman Derrick Brown's long-awaited return from injury to factor into the equation.
Even so, the Panthers must take Graham if he's available. He's the best defensive lineman in a deep class. He's got Pro Bowl or better potential with a smooth transition to the pros. Pairing him with the options already at Carolina's disposal turns a glaring weakness into an area of strength immediately.
It'll be a waiting game. But if Graham lands in Carolina's lap at No. 8, it represents a difficult proposition to turn down.
Carolina Panthers draft Jalen Royals
- Wide Receiver | Utah State Aggies
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 65
A small trade to begin the activity on Day 2 of this mock draft. The Carolina Panthers engineer a pick swap with the New York Giants, moving out of the second round and getting another top-100 selection in exchange for one of the team's fifth-rounders.
Dan Morgan wants more playmakers. The Panthers ignored the weapons around quarterback Bryce Young in free agency, rightfully focusing their attention on the defensive side instead. That must change at some point during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Those in power are confident that Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker can build on their rookie flashes. Adam Thielen remains one of the league's best route-runners despite his advancing years. But despite David Moore, the cupboard is relatively bare in the receiver room.
If Jalen Royals was still available at the start of the third round, the Panthers could do a lot worse. He's a genuine three-level threat who makes things happen with the football in his hands. The Utah State prospect can stretch the field, is a smooth route technician, and boasts the explosiveness to create separation effortlessly.
Morgan wants players with proven college production this time around. Royals ticks those boxes with 126 receptions for 1,914 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Carolina Panthers draft Kyle Kennard
- Edge Rusher | South Carolina Gamecocks
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 74
Finding an explosive edge rusher is high on Carolina's list of draft objectives. Dan Morgan cannot come away from his nine picks and not have someone with the potential to make a lasting contribution from Week 1.
The Panthers still have Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum around in the final year of their respective deals. Signing Patrick Jones II in free agency should also help, although what his specific role will be hasn't been determined. Outside of that, the options are underwhelming.
Fortunately for the Panthers, this is a deep group of defensive linemen and edge rushers. That won't have gone unnoticed by Morgan, who's been linked with the likes of Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, and even Donovan Ezeiruaku earlier in the draft.
They went with Mason Graham in this scenario. That'll help the defensive front, but the edge still needs more. This brings Kyle Kennard firmly under the microscope.
Kennard has everything one looks for in a productive NFL pass-rusher. He's a dynamic athlete with the right blend of size, length, and agility. When the prospect was on his game at South Carolina, there was almost nothing the opposition could do to stop him.
Improving against the run is the next big challenge. After that, it's all systems go.
Carolina Panthers draft Jonas Sanker
- Safety | Viirginia Cavaliers
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 99
Adding to the safety options remains an overlooked need for the Carolina Panthers. Signing Tre'von Moehrig in free agency will assist greatly, but they've got nowhere near enough to be a competitive unit in 2025.
Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, and Sam Franklin Jr. are long gone. Nick Scott was surprisingly re-signed, but he'll be a special teamer rather than tasked with defensive responsibilities. Undrafted free agent Demani Richardson has promise, so it'll be interesting to see how he develops over the summer in pursuit of increased reps.
That's about it. The Panthers could use another accomplished safety from the college ranks. Preferably, this would be a plug-and-play option rather than a development project that needs time to develop.
Jonas Sanker is someone the Panthers have taken an interest in during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. The Virginia prospect is versatile, intelligent, and leads by example. He's equally effective against the run or in coverage, even boasting experience as a nickel cornerback if the situation dictates.
Sanker lacks a little bit of agility, which can impact his change of direction quickness on occasion. However, this represents a ton of value in a position of need for the Panthers in the fourth round.
Carolina Panthers draft Terrance Ferguson
- Tight End | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 111
The Panthers re-signed Tommy Tremble on a two-year deal to see if there is more untapped potential attached to the former third-round pick. Ian Thomas wasn't so lucky, with his long tenure in Carolina mercifully coming to an end when he signed for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carolina needs more at the tight end position. They have faith that Ja'Tavion Sanders can build on a promising rookie campaign, but the more weapons quarterback Bryce Young has, the better his chances of flourishing will be.
He might not be getting the hype of some blue-chip prospects at the draft's top end. Even so, Terrance Ferguson's well-rounded credentials and exceptional testing at the NFL Scouting Combine should put him firmly on Carolina's radar.
Ferguson has the size and dynamism typically associated with the modern-day NFL tight end. The Oregon prospect uses his body well, is a willing blocker, and possesses the athleticism that makes him a difficult proposition to bring down.
If Ferguson can improve his concentration when it comes to difficult catches across the middle, someone is going to have a real player on their hands. The presence of Tremble and Sanders would give him the security to develop at his own pace in this scenario.
Carolina Panthers draft Quincy Riley
- Cornerback | Louisville Cardinals
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 114
The Carolina Panthers could address their cornerback options a lot sooner than this. Dan Morgan focused on retention rather than incomings throughout the offseason, which is something that will change when the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.
Just where the Panthers take a cornerback is moot. They have to get one to pair with the options already around. This is the best possible chance defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has of improving coverage consistency, although having a better front seven won't hurt, either.
If Morgan chooses to wait a little longer for cornerback reinforcements, Quincy Riley is a name to watch. He's someone the Panthers have reportedly met with several times throughout the assessment stage. Looking at how many 2024 draftees had private visits with Carolina's brass, that matters.
Riley is an instinctive player with fluid movements and exceptional ball skills. Staying in phase with receivers is his specialty, in addition to having the anticipation to turn opportunities into takeaways. That's something the Panthers lacked last season, so it's no surprise to see Carolina examine the prospect's credentials in greater detail.
Any team that drafts Riley will need to build up his strength. If he can find ways to cope with the physical aspect of the NFL, he's got starting promise.
Carolina Panthers draft R.J. Harvey
- Running Back | UCF Knights
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 140
The Panthers probably weren't entertaining the possibility of drafting another running back, but that's what Dan Morgan should be thinking about once other needs have been met beforehand.
Chuba Hubbard is the top dog after signing a four-year extension last season. The Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in free agency to offset the loss of Miles Sanders, who was released with one year remaining on his deal after talks regarding a pay cut fell flat.
That shouldn't prevent the Panthers from acquiring another running back. Jonathon Brooks, whom Carolina traded up to No. 46 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to acquire, suffered another torn ACL that could see him miss most if not all of the upcoming campaign. A contingency plan must be found as a matter of urgency.
The Panthers could do with a backfield threat capable of becoming an asset in the passing game. Hubbard and Dowdle are talented, but they lack consistency in this area. That's where R.J. Harvey comes in.
Harvey's lack of legitimate height will hurt his stock. However, he's a devastating force in the open field with a compact running style to exploit even the smallest gaps.
The UCF prospect's diminutive stature works in his favor on passing downs. Harvey plays low to the ground with rapid-fire cuts out of his route stems that make him a quarterback's best friend. If the Panthers went in this direction, they'd have the perfect running back trio until Brooks returns.
Carolina Panthers draft Ajani Cornelius
- Offensive Tackle | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 163
The Carolina Panthers rightfully brought back the major contributors from their offensive line throughout the offseason. This unit became a beacon of hope amid the typical doom and gloom right from the outset of 2024. Once quarterback Bryce Young started to trust the protection in front of him, it didn't take much longer for things to progress.
No team gets anywhere by settling. Dan Morgan recognizes this fact, with the Panthers doing their due diligence on some tackle prospects emerging via the draft this year. Whether they take one remains to be seen, but it's something to monitor nonetheless.
Taylor Moton is entering the final year of his deal. Most thought the Panthers would extend him ahead of time, but Morgan is willing to eat his $31.34 million salary-cap hit before taking any further steps. With Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen as the backups, acquiring a development prospect with one of their later picks seems feasible.
Ajani Cornelius is an athletic, powerful edge presence. He's a smooth mover with the hand placement needed to keep oncoming pass-rushers at arm's length. This is matched by ruthless aggression on running plays that's hard not to love.
Once Cornelius improves technically, he could be a dependable rotational piece at the very least.
Carolina Panthers draft Collin Oliver
- Linebacker | Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 230
Finding a diamond in the rough with the Panthers' final selection in the draft will be difficult. Seventh-rounders have to work their way from the bottom up. The margins between them and undrafted free agents are minimal. That's not to say there aren't some real success stories throughout NFL history that went under the radar.
The Panthers need another developmental linebacker. Shaq Thompson's decade-long stint with the franchise concluded this offseason, leaving Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace as the projected starters. Christian Rozeboom joined in free agency, which brings intrigue considering he's got previous experience within Ejiro Evero's defensive scheme from their time together on the Los Angeles Rams.
A fourth option to go along with this trio would be prudent. Collin Oliver wouldn't be classed as elite in any traits. However, the Oklahoma State prospect does most things well. And there's enough scope for growth to get consideration at this juncture.
Oliver has experience as an off-ball linebacker or an edge rusher, boasting an explosive first step and a low center of gravity that allows him to get around bigger offensive tackles. He's a productive tackler and improving in coverage. This also makes him a decent special teams option while getting problem areas such as block disengagement and run-fit recognition up to speed.