Dan Morgan's first draft class in 2024 may not look like a complete success right now. That meant pressure was on the Carolina Panthers' general manager to his his 2025 class out of the park.
Morgan was aggressive, taking advantage of opportunities when they arose and having the conviction of his assessments to make the moves needed. The Panthers got a decent return, and their first seasons in a professional environment couldn't be seen as anything more than encouraging.
Carolina won the NFC South for the first time in a decade. They booked a playoff berth for the first time since 2017. And the rookie crop all played a significant part in helping head coach Dave Canales' squad make encouraging strides in Year 2 of his tenure.
With this in mind, we regraded the Panthers' 2025 draft class after their first taste of a high-pressure regular-season environment.
Regrading the Carolina Panthers' 2025 NFL Draft class after one season
Carolina Panthers drafted Jimmy Horn Jr.
- Wide Receiver | Colorado Buffaloes
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 208
With their final pick of the draft, the Panthers selected Jimmy Horn Jr. He made the 53-man roster comfortably, but there was a reluctance from the coaching staff to get him heavily involved during his critical early transition.
Horn finally got involved over the second half of 2025. The versatile weapon had some bright moments, but the drop issues that were evident in college reared their head on occasion. This is all part of the rollercoaster typically associated with Day 3 picks, but the flashes suggest there is something to work with.
- Original Grade: B+
- Regrade after Year 1: B
The Panthers will likely continue to utilize Horn on special teams next season. But it remains to be seen whether he can firmly establish himself in the offensive rotation.
Carolina Panthers drafted Mitchell Evans
- Tight End | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 163
The Panthers thought Mitchell Evans had the physical scope to be a complete package at the tight end position. He gained plenty of experience in the first year of his professional career, which will obviously serve him well moving forward.
Evans looked like a smooth route-runner with safe hands. He is not the finished article just yet, but his 76.0 percent catch success rate and two touchdowns, coupled with some encouraging blocking tendencies, give him a solid platform from which to build.
- Original Grade: A
- Regrade after Year 1: B+
The jury is still out as to whether Evans will be a legitimate No. 1 option. Still, he looks more than capable of carving out a decent role for himself if additional strides are made.
Carolina Panthers drafted Cam Jackson
- Defensive Line | Florida Gators
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 140
Adding to the defensive line wasn't a massive priority for the Carolina Panthers during the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn't stop Dan Morgan from using a Day 3 pick on Cam Jackson.
Derrick Brown was returning from injury. The Panthers splashed the cash on Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. A'Shawn Robinson was still around, so Jackson had his work cut out trying to force his way onto the defensive rotation.
There was no danger of Jackson not making the roster. He was only tasked with 85 snaps on the defensive lineup in the regular season. However, his brute strength, which enabled him to push the pile, complemented what the Panthers did extremely well with their most established veterans.
- Original Grade: B-
- Regrade after Year 1: B
This season was always going to be a learning curve for Jackson. When he came into the squad, the interior lineman looked like he was ready for the moment. Hopefully, that trend continues in the coming months.
Carolina Panthers drafted Lathan Ransom
- Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 122
Lathan Ransom was riding on the crest of a wave entering the NFL. The physical safety came on the back of a college football national championship triumph with Ohio State, and the Carolina Panthers saw something in the player to bring him into the fold.
Ransom wasted no time in making his presence felt. His explosiveness and fearlessness took the summer by storm. And when the Panthers gave him the green light to impact matters on the defensive rotation, he was a revelation.
There were some lapses in coverage, but that's to be expected of a rookie. But Ransom's ability to make tone-setting plays against the run and be utilized on blitz packages leaves plenty of hope for the future.
- Original Grade: B+
- Regrade after Year 1: A
Just why Ransom fell so far down the pecking order is anyone's guess. But the Panthers' gamble could pay off handsomely.
Carolina Panthers drafted Trevor Etienne
- Running Back | Georgia Bulldogs
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 114
It was somewhat surprising to see the Carolina Panthers select a running back in the fourth round, especially after signing Rico Dowdle in free agency. That was a short-term investment, while Trevor Etienne was a bet on his long-term upside.
Nobody expected Etienne to unseat either Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart. That proved to be the case, but the former Georgia standout found another way to make a leading contribution in his rookie year.
Etienne locked down the starting kick returner roles. He accumulated 1003 punt and kick return yards, which was enormously encouraging. Some critical mistakes at key moments were frustrating, but if he can eradicate these concentration lapses from his game, this spot could be his long-term home.
- Original Grade: B
- Regrade after Year 1: B
Whether Etienne can gain more carries next season is dependent on Jonathon Brooks' return and whether any more reinforcements come into the fold.
Carolina Panthers drafted Princely Umanmielen
- Edge Rusher | Ole Miss Rebels
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 77
Dan Morgan saw enough in Princely Umanmielen to give up one of his precious draft picks to move up and secure his services. There was some work needed to set clean edges against the run, but the Carolina Panthers were in desperate need of adding more explosiveness to their pass-rushing unit.
Umanmielen wasn't as far ahead as Nic Scourton, but nobody expected him to be. His run defense is not the best, which limited his involvement throughout the campaign. The Ole Miss product's confidence never wavered, but with 1.5 sacks and five pressures from 22 percent of the team's snaps, there is even more growing to do.
- Original Grade: A
- Regrade after Year 1: B
The next few months will be crucial for Umanmielen. Morgan wasn't happy about the lack of pressure generated this season, and he plans to do something about it. Reinforcements are on the way, so the Manor High School graduate must respond accordingly.
Carolina Panthers drafted Nic Scourton
- Edge Rusher | Texas A&M Aggies
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 51
After the Carolina Panthers took a wide receiver at No. 8 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, finding an edge rusher capable of logging prominent reps immediately was the next objective. Dan Morgan swapped four picks with the Denver Broncos to surge up for Nic Scourton, a young yet highly gifted physical force with significant long-term upside.
It didn't take long for Scourton to repay this faith. He was a key rotational piece right out of the gate. When Patrick Jones II suffered a season-ending back injury, he became a starter. By the end of the campaign, the former Texas A&M standout was the team's most productive all-around edge defender.
- Original Grade: A
- Regrade after Year 1: A
Scouton won't turn 22 until late August, so there is just no telling how much he can improve with a little extra refinement. Regardless of what additions the Panthers make, he's earned the right to start again in 2026.
Carolina Panthers drafted Tetairoa McMillan
- Wide Receiver | Arizona Wildcats
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 8
Most fans and experts thought the Carolina Panthers were going to take a defensive prospect with the No. 8 pick. Dan Morgan had other ideas, selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan just one year after acquiring Xavier Legette.
It didn't take long to realize the two players were not the same. Legette continues to struggle, but McMillan took the league by storm. He broke the rookie franchise record for receiving yards, previously held by Kelvin Benjamin. He went over 1,000 receiving yards and played with the swagger typically associated with No. 1 receivers around the league. More importantly, Morgan gained instant vindication for making the choice.
- Original Grade: A
- Regrade after Year 1: A+
The Panthers didn't overthink things with McMillan. They believed this was the player to finally take quarterback Bryce Young's game to new heights. This was a shrewd move, and superstardom awaits if he continues on this upward trajectory.