The Carolina Panthers currently own nine picks in the upcoming draft and have been hard at work studying the incoming players. The 2025 NFL Draft is inching closer every day. With the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl now over, many teams’ draft boards are starting to truly take shape.

Let’s take a look at a brand new seven-round mock draft for the Panthers. The NFL Mock Draft Database Simulator was used for version 1.0 of this mock draft, so it will be used again here for version 2.0.

1). Round 1, Pick 8: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Carolina boasted arguably the worst defense in NFL history in 2024. The team will surely address this aggressively in free agency and the draft, but wide receiver is still a huge area of need. Enter McMillan, perhaps the best receiver available in this draft class. The 6’5 behemoth out of Arizona has all the makings of a true number-one receiver in the NFL. His catch radius, aggressiveness, reliable hands, and run-after-catch ability would give Bryce Young an incredible young weapon.

2). Round 2, Pick 57: Princely Umanmielen, DE, Ole Miss

An edge rusher is perhaps the single most significant need for Carolina entering the offseason. The team met with Umanmielen at the Senior Bowl, and there’s a real chance he could fall into this spot. His 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss earned him All-SEC honors last season, making him a prime day-two target for any team. If there’s any inkling that he could be taken sooner, expect the Panthers to attempt a trade-up to get their guy.

3). Round 3, Pick 74: Kevin Winston Jr., DB, Penn State

Winston played well as a starting safety for Penn State, but he suffered a partially torn ACL back in September. He struggles at times in coverage, especially when playing deeper zones. Playing at or near the line of scrimmage, however, is where Winston thrives. He’s an aggressive run defender with elite closing speed. The Panthers need more run defenders desperately, and Winston would be a great fit in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s Cover 3 scheme.

4). Round 4, Pick 110: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Last year, the Carolina Panthers drafted Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in the fourth round. History could repeat itself this year with this pick. Helm is an all-around solid tight end, showing prowess as both a receiver and as a blocker. Sanders is currently the only tight end on Carolina’s roster, and the Panthers must continue acquiring talent at virtually every position. This draft class is deep at the tight end position, and Helm stands out.

5). Round 4, Pick 113: Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina

Carolina may look to move on from longtime linebacker Shaq Thompson in the offseason, leaving Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace as their off-ball linebackers. While both improved as last season progressed, the Panthers still need a three-down linebacker that can cover sideline to sideline and stop the run. Knight fits that exact mold. The incoming draft class is not exactly deep at linebacker, making Knight an even bigger priority for a team needing LB help.

6). Round 5, Pick 141: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

Bryant is slightly undersized for the modern-day pro cornerback (6’0, 175 lbs.), but don’t let that fool you. He’s a stingy defender with a willingness to attack the run. He plays exceptionally well in press coverage but has some limitations due to his size and lack of elite speed. He has the talent, experience, and knowledge to become a reliable corner at the next level, even if just on a rotational basis.

7). Round 5, Pick 147: Nazir Stackhouse, DL, Georgia

Stackhouse has been a defensive stalwart for Georgia, combining his size (6’3, 320 lbs.) with his strength to overwhelm interior offensive linemen. He projects as a run-stuffing DT that would fit best in a 3-4 scheme. In Carolina’s 3-4 defense, a lack of gap integrity from their defenders and a lack of a true space eater has led to some serious issues with stopping the run. Stackhouse needs to work on his pass rushing, but playing next to a healthy Derrick Brown would give Carolina an extreme defensive front.

Round 5, Pick 164: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

Wilson is a unique prospect. A North Carolina native, Wilson played linebacker in high school before transitioning to center in college. His defensive experience gives him better insight into a defense’s scheme, which has helped him improve over time. Carolina needs a true center, as Austin Corbett is set to become a free agent. While Wilson must work on improving strength to succeed at the next level, he can develop into a longtime starting center for any NFL team.

Round 7, Pick 229: Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech

The Panthers drafted Texas RB Jonathon Brooks last year, but the former Longhorn re-tore his ACL towards the end of the season and will most likely miss all of the 2025 season. Carolina needs a solid RB to back up Chuba Hubbard. Tahj Brooks is a downhill power runner and amassed 872 yards after contact in 2024.

That’s over half of his total 1,512 yards on the ground he gained last season. While he lacks elite speed and needs to work on his pass-catching, Brooks could develop into an every-down RB at the next level.

End Of My Panthers Rant

These players will help the Panthers move into the next step of the forever rebuild and start being a competitive football team.