Only four teams remain in the Super Bowl race. The Carolina Panthers are others have their sights firmly set on the recruitment process and what they can do to enhance their prospects of gaining similar success in the coming years.
Dan Morgan had a tough job on his hands during his first year as general manager. This was a franchise down on their luck and rooted as the league's laughingstock. It took time and not everything was perfect, but the Panthers are on sounder footing at long last.
There is also stability for the first time in David Tepper's ownership. The Panthers are not frantically trying to find prominent appointments in the hiring cycle. The billionaire hedge fund manager is bullish about the future and is giving Morgan's project time. Bryce Young's emergence into a productive quarterback lends further weight to the positivity.
Carolina is in a better position for sustainable success. They could be more active in free agency if those in power free up enough spare financial resources. Morgan also has nine draft selections at his disposal to find immediate difference-makers and depth pieces from the college ranks.
It was a mixed bag from Morgan's first draft class. Most got decent playing time during their early transition, although they remain a work in progress. This experience should serve them well, but there is an urgency to maximize the rich assets at their disposal this spring.
Carolina Panthers need a strong 2025 NFL Draft to boost their hopes next season
With bowl games upcoming, the evaluation process is in full swing. Morgan and his staff will be running the rule over hundreds of prospects before narrowing down his shortlist. After that, it's a case of playing the draft board effectively and finding the players capable of fitting into the team's improving culture.
Carolina's needs look pretty obvious right now. They'll alter heading into the draft depending on any free-agent acquisitions. What's important for Morgan is striking when opportunities arise and giving the coaching staff every possible tool needed to excel when competitive action begins in 2025.
It'll be a waiting game for the Panthers. A strong end to the season saw them pick up four wins over the second half of 2024. This was good for morale, but it left them at No. 8 overall thanks in no small part to the unusual number of terrible teams with bad records.
Using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator, we took a look at how the Panthers might approach their selections in our seven-round pre-Senior Bowl mock draft.
Carolina Panthers draft Mason Graham
- Defensive Line | Michigan Wolverines
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 8
The Carolina Panthers should be doing cartwheels if Mason Graham makes it this far down the pecking order. While the chances are unlikely, this all depends on how many quarterbacks go in the first seven selections.
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward should be among the first to hear their names called. There's also plenty of hype building that a desperate team will also take a gamble on Alabama signal-caller Jalen Milroe, who is expected to test extremely well throughout the evaluation process.
The Panthers will be watching events unfold in front of them closely. If Graham is available when Carolina goes on the clock, it might not take too long to turn in their card.
Graham is a genuine game-wrecker on the defensive front. The Michigan prospect boasts a unique blend of size, power, and athleticism. He's explosive to the point of attack and boasts an exceptional football IQ to identify plays developing quickly before reacting with supreme conviction.
Placing Graham opposite Derrick Brown on the defensive front provides the Panthers with a long-term partnership and a stable anchor for the line.
Carolina Panthers draft Kyle Kennard
- Edge Rusher | South Carolina Gamecocks
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 57
Considering the number of picks Carolina has and the long wait from No. 8 to No. 57, it wouldn't be surprising to see Dan Morgan trade up in the second round depending on how the board plays out. That's to be determined, but someone like Kyle Kennard would be hard to pass up if he made his way this far down the order.
The Panthers need help at the edge rushing position. Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum played well over the second half of 2024, but the options are non-existent aside from that. Adding another explosive piece with a high upside wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
Kennard is no stranger to Panthers fans having played his college football at South Carolina. He's got sufficient length and is relentless in pursuit. His speed-to-power moves are difficult to overcome, although adding more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire is essential to hit the ground running.
Learning from the likes of Clowney and Wonnum would help Kennard's early transition enormously. He should be on the shortlist.
Carolina Pantheras draft Deone Walker
- Defensive Line | Kentucky Wildcats
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 74
You might be sensing a theme here. The Panthers' defense was historically bad in 2024. They couldn't provide enough consistency no matter who was in their way. Now that those in power have decided to retain coordinator Ejiro Evero, improving the playing personnel is integral.
This all starts upfront. Getting Derrick Brown back from injury will help. A'Shawn Robinson generated more pressure than expected but couldn't hold his own against the run. Shy Tuttle is not a nose tackle and might not be around in 2025.
Beefing up Carolina's 3-4 defensive front with younger starting options and improved depth is a big priority for Dan Morgan. Mason Graham being their first-round pick in this scenario should not stop them from adding another if the right situation comes along.
Deone Walker represents tremendous value here. He's a huge interior force and a magnet for double-teams. He's technically sound and has the power needed to create havoc when left unattended.
Whether the Kentucky prospect is too tall for the nose tackle spot is debatable. However, Walker would be a key rotational piece immediately and potentially even a starter once he fully acclimatizes.
Carolina Panthers draft Jayden Higgins
- Wide Receiver | Iowa State Cyclones
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 109
The Carolina Panthers are giving quarterback Bryce Young another chance to start in 2025. This is the least he deserves after showing the correct resolve to bounce back from adversity.
Young's performances over the second half of 2024 were much improved. He found his feet, had much more conviction, and confidence oozed from the signal-caller. It wasn't easy, but he won the trust of head coach Dave Canales and has the locker room's full support.
Adding to the weapons around Young could see him progress further next time around. Fans want to see a bold move for someone like Tee Higgins. If not, there might be a few gems in the draft that could make an immediate difference.
Jayden Higgins is a name to watch. The Iowa State prospect isn't the quickest, but he's a slick route runner with the size to overcome almost any coverage scheme with minimal fuss. This 6-foot-4 frame also makes him an imposing red zone threat to bolster his stock. His hands are an asset that can come in and make an impression in specific situations.
Expecting miracles from Higgins right away is unrealistic. At the same time, he's well worth a gamble here.
Carolina Panthers draft Dorian Strong
- Cornerback | Virginia Tech Hokies
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 112
Jaycee Horn is a superstar and should be paid handsomely by the Panthers this offseason to keep him around long-term. There are questions elsewhere in the cornerback room.
The Panthers are looking to extend Mike Jackson Sr. after he impressed. Rookie Chau Smith-Wade also did well when increased responsibilities came his way in the nickel role. Dane Jackson could be a salary-cap casualty despite his strong connection to Dan Morgan. So there is a lot of hard work ahead.
It might be worth the Panthers drafting another cornerback development project that could be an asset on special teams. Dorian Strong comes highly recommended, thriving in press coverage during his time at Virginia Tech and coming up with big plays aplenty along the way.
Strong's ball judgment is good, he anticipates routes well and has enough change of direction agility to cope. The defensive back is undersized for the position, so bulking up is only going to help his chances in the pros.
Carolina Panthers draft Jaylen Reed
- Safety | Penn State Nittany Lions
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 140
This could be a bigger need depending on what happens with the Panthers' current safety options. Things should become clearer in the coming weeks, but one couldn't blame Dan Morgan for wanting to hit the reset button on the backend.
Xavier Woods has been an ever-present over the last three years but could take his chances elsewhere in free agency. Jordan Fuller's move to Carolina didn't work out and he won't get an extension.
The same goes for Nick Scott — another former Ejiro Evero player who failed to meet even modest expectations. Sam Franklin Jr.'s special teams prowess could get a reprieve, but more is needed alongside undrafted free agent Demani Richardson.
If the Panthers go down the draft route for safety reinforcements, Jaylen Reed is a possibility. The Penn State prospect thrives against the run, displaying physicality and sound tackling at the defensive second level. He's a natural at identifying where runners are planning to go before arriving violently — something Carolina's league-worst run defense desperately needs.
This aggressiveness can sometimes work against him. But there are far worse options the Panthers could take at this stage of the draft.
Carolina Panthers draft Smael Mondon Jr.
- Linebacker | Georgia Bulldogs
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 146
There are questions surrounding the Carolina Panthers' linebacking corps. These center squarely on Shaq Thompson's future with the franchise.
Thompson is the team's second-longest serving player. He's still a solid performer and a supreme leader within the locker room. Unfortunately for the second-level presence, his last two campaigns have ended abruptly through injury.
A broken fibula was swiftly followed by a torn Achilles. Not exactly ideal, but Thompson believes he'll make a full recovery and has a lot of good football left. The Panthers have Trevin Wallace and Josey Jewell to pick up the slack, so another option should be considered even if the former first-round pick out of Washington gets a short-term deal.
Smael Mondon Jr. is a gifted athlete. The Georgia prospect is a little rough around the edges, but his physical traits and dynamic playmaking ability represent solid foundations from which to build. He's also an outstanding tackler, which is a prerequisite for any linebacker operating within Ejiro Evero's 3-4 defensive scheme.
He's young and somewhat undersized, so Mondon is a development project until further notice. However, he'll be a major asset on special teams while developing other areas of his game such as pass-rushing and coverage awareness.
Carolina Panthers draft Luke Lachey
- Tight End | Iowa Hawkeyes
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 163
Iowa has developed a habit of producing NFL-caliber tight ends in recent years. It's a conveyor belt for talent. Their coaches have them ready for the rigors of a professional environment. Almost all of them manage to carve out careers for themselves. Some even become superstars.
While Luke Lachey doesn't have much legitimate production with the Hawkeyes, he's someone who'll come under the microscope as a high-value option capable of being molded into something more. There is some hard work ahead, especially to improve his blocking, but the prospect has a wide catch radius and assured hands with the ideal size for an NFL tight end.
The son of former three-time All-Pro offensive tackle Jim Lachey knows how to find space in coverage. He's intelligent and has the footwork needed to manipulate the top of his routes. This allows him to get open quickly, especially in the red zone.
It's a work in progress and Lachey doesn't have the game-breaking speed to become a yards after the catch threat. But he'd be an intriguing option to put behind Ja'Tavion Sanders and Tommy Tremble if he's brought back.
Carolina Panthers draft Kyle Monangai
- Running Back | Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 228
The Panthers have a not-so-subtle need at the running back position. Chuba Hubbard is the top dog and deservedly got a new four-year extension as a result of his efforts. But everything is up in the air aside from that.
Jonathon Brooks' long-awaited comeback after a year out lasted just three games before he suffered another torn ACL. This was a devastating blow — one that probably suggests the second-round pick out of Texas won't be seen again until the 2026 campaign.
Carolina also has a big decision to make with Miles Sanders. Although the veteran played well in their regular-season finale at the Atlanta Falcons, his overall body of work spanning two seasons means he could be cut with a saving of $5.22 million attached.
If this scenario comes to fruition, the Panthers need to find a capable backup who could potentially shoulder some of Hubbard's burden throughout the campaign. There are always some rough diamonds in the draft. Examining Kyle Monangai's prospects in greater detail would be beneficial.
Monangai put up significant numbers over the last two years at Rutgers. His 5-foot-9 size and lack of elite speed will hurt his stock. However, his contact balance, vision, and reliable hands out of the backfield make him a decent pick to end the draft from Carolina's standpoint.