![United’s CEO Led The Industry In Eliminating Change Fees — Then Quietly Raised One [Roundup]](https://viewfromthewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250218_134423.jpg?#)
Carolina Panthers’ 7-round NFL mock draft, featuring a run on high-upside prospects
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images What should the Carolina Panthers do in the 2025 NFL Draft? Here’s our 7-round mock. The 2025 NFL Draft is wide open for the Carolina Panthers. This is an organization that took significant steps forward in the tail-end of 2024, leading to actual excitement from fans for the first time in years. Early returns seemingly indicate that the organization got it right by hiring Dave Canales as head coach, whose bold decision to bench quarterback Bryce Young to let him refocus paid massive dividends to close out the season as Young returned to action looking like one of the most polishing quarterbacks in the NFL. Offensively the Panthers are at the point where they still have a gaping need at wide receiver, but outside of that they’re more or less just trying to hone what they already have. The defense is a different story, with myriad needs across the side of the ball needing to be fixed. That’s where the focus will be this year for Carolina, and where it makes the most sense. To conduct this seven round mock I conducted a total of six seven round drafts on both Pro Football Focus’ simulator, and Mock Draft Database’s version — three on each, selecting only for the Panthers and allowing their system to fill out the rest. From there picks were settled on by using the most common selections in each round. 1.8: Shemar Stewart, EDGE — Texas A&M There are a lot of pass rushers in this class, but only two I believe can become transcendent talents: Abdul Carter and Shemar Stewart. This is a pick that has serious boom-or-bust elements to it, which is why Stewart will almost assuredly be available at No. 8, rather than being a Top 3 pick. Why Stewart didn’t produce in college is an absolute mystery based on his unicorn physical traits. That’s the biggest red flag here. However, the Panthers are a team that likes to take physical outliers with the belief they can coach them into the players they want them to be. If Carolina can do this with Stewart there’s a very real chance he could emulate former Aggie Von Miller and have a similar impact in the NFL. Yes, he’s potentially that good, and the Panthers won’t pass on that upside — even if it feels like a reach on draft night. 2.57: Benjamin Morrison, CB — Notre Dame The possibility of a defensive lineman looms large here, but in my simulated mocks the class didn’t break in a way that allowed it to happen with the 57th pick. Instead the Panthers sure up their secondary with Morrison, who could easily start on the outside across from Jaycee Horn. Pass defense was a big issue for Carolina a year ago and while their tendency is to work inside-out and use pressure as pseudo pass defense, they can’t afford to go into the season with their secondary depth chart as it currently stands. Morrison is a ball hawk who can help the Panthers win the turnover battle, which is a great trait considering that Bryce Young has become a fairly reliable hand under center who doesn’t throw a lot of picks. 3.74: Jayden Higgins, WR — Iowa State Much in the vein of the Shemar Stewart pick, this follows the Panthers’ ideal that you can’t teach size. At 6-4, 215 pounds there are shades of a poor man’s Mike Evans here — and that will intrigue Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. Higgins is far from the perfect prospect, and at this point he will need a focused, limited system that doesn’t ask him to do too much initially. That makes Carolina a solid home where he’ll be the fourth receiver out of the gate behind Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker. The idea wouldn’t be for Higgins to contribute greatly in year one, but put himself in a position to become the No. 3 option when Thielen presumably retires from the league after the 2025 season. Another “we can coach him up” pick, this is a solid place to get a big-bodied target for Young. 4.111: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB — South Carolina Making the difficult decision to part ways with team leader Shaq Thompson was a necessary pain point of the offseason. Now the draft affords the Panthers a chance to find his replacement. Carolina needs a tackling machine to pair with Josey Jewell inside the Panthers’ 3-4 defense — and Knight Jr. is an ideal fit for everything the Panthers like from their inside backers. He’s smart, instinctual, and while he might not have top-tier athleticism, he’s playing a position which doesn’t necessarily require elite measurables. When there’s a chance you can land a reliable starter in the fourth round or later, you take it. It’s for this reason I think the former Gamecock would be a great addition to the defense. 4.114: Kevin Winston Jr, S — Penn State A raw prospect, but the kind of player the Panthers love in the back-end of the draft. Missed the 2024 season due to injury, but that hasn’t scared Carolina in the past. This is another physical tools type guy who has the potential to be coached up. Filling the secondary with depth should be a major focus f
What should the Carolina Panthers do in the 2025 NFL Draft? Here’s our 7-round mock.
The 2025 NFL Draft is wide open for the Carolina Panthers. This is an organization that took significant steps forward in the tail-end of 2024, leading to actual excitement from fans for the first time in years.
Early returns seemingly indicate that the organization got it right by hiring Dave Canales as head coach, whose bold decision to bench quarterback Bryce Young to let him refocus paid massive dividends to close out the season as Young returned to action looking like one of the most polishing quarterbacks in the NFL.
Offensively the Panthers are at the point where they still have a gaping need at wide receiver, but outside of that they’re more or less just trying to hone what they already have. The defense is a different story, with myriad needs across the side of the ball needing to be fixed. That’s where the focus will be this year for Carolina, and where it makes the most sense.
To conduct this seven round mock I conducted a total of six seven round drafts on both Pro Football Focus’ simulator, and Mock Draft Database’s version — three on each, selecting only for the Panthers and allowing their system to fill out the rest. From there picks were settled on by using the most common selections in each round.
1.8: Shemar Stewart, EDGE — Texas A&M
There are a lot of pass rushers in this class, but only two I believe can become transcendent talents: Abdul Carter and Shemar Stewart. This is a pick that has serious boom-or-bust elements to it, which is why Stewart will almost assuredly be available at No. 8, rather than being a Top 3 pick.
Why Stewart didn’t produce in college is an absolute mystery based on his unicorn physical traits. That’s the biggest red flag here. However, the Panthers are a team that likes to take physical outliers with the belief they can coach them into the players they want them to be.
If Carolina can do this with Stewart there’s a very real chance he could emulate former Aggie Von Miller and have a similar impact in the NFL. Yes, he’s potentially that good, and the Panthers won’t pass on that upside — even if it feels like a reach on draft night.
2.57: Benjamin Morrison, CB — Notre Dame
The possibility of a defensive lineman looms large here, but in my simulated mocks the class didn’t break in a way that allowed it to happen with the 57th pick. Instead the Panthers sure up their secondary with Morrison, who could easily start on the outside across from Jaycee Horn.
Pass defense was a big issue for Carolina a year ago and while their tendency is to work inside-out and use pressure as pseudo pass defense, they can’t afford to go into the season with their secondary depth chart as it currently stands.
Morrison is a ball hawk who can help the Panthers win the turnover battle, which is a great trait considering that Bryce Young has become a fairly reliable hand under center who doesn’t throw a lot of picks.
3.74: Jayden Higgins, WR — Iowa State
Much in the vein of the Shemar Stewart pick, this follows the Panthers’ ideal that you can’t teach size. At 6-4, 215 pounds there are shades of a poor man’s Mike Evans here — and that will intrigue Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
Higgins is far from the perfect prospect, and at this point he will need a focused, limited system that doesn’t ask him to do too much initially. That makes Carolina a solid home where he’ll be the fourth receiver out of the gate behind Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker.
The idea wouldn’t be for Higgins to contribute greatly in year one, but put himself in a position to become the No. 3 option when Thielen presumably retires from the league after the 2025 season. Another “we can coach him up” pick, this is a solid place to get a big-bodied target for Young.
4.111: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB — South Carolina
Making the difficult decision to part ways with team leader Shaq Thompson was a necessary pain point of the offseason. Now the draft affords the Panthers a chance to find his replacement.
Carolina needs a tackling machine to pair with Josey Jewell inside the Panthers’ 3-4 defense — and Knight Jr. is an ideal fit for everything the Panthers like from their inside backers. He’s smart, instinctual, and while he might not have top-tier athleticism, he’s playing a position which doesn’t necessarily require elite measurables.
When there’s a chance you can land a reliable starter in the fourth round or later, you take it. It’s for this reason I think the former Gamecock would be a great addition to the defense.
4.114: Kevin Winston Jr, S — Penn State
A raw prospect, but the kind of player the Panthers love in the back-end of the draft. Missed the 2024 season due to injury, but that hasn’t scared Carolina in the past. This is another physical tools type guy who has the potential to be coached up.
Filling the secondary with depth should be a major focus for the Panthers in the draft, and Winston Jr. is an upside player who could very easily develop into a starter.
5.140: Jordan Phillips, DT — Maryland
Projects primarily as a run gap stuffer in the pros, Phillips is a back-end pick designed to add to the DL rotation as the team gets older. Can immediately have a place thanks to his high football IQ, and while he’s not the most athletic player in the class, coaches have praised his work ethic.
5.146: Jamaree Caldwell, DT — Oregon
A big-bodied nose tackle with the potential to develop into Shy Tuttle’s replacement in the 3-4 front with coaching. Caldwell can eat space, but has also shown limited flashes as a pass rusher — which could allow for for scheme flexibility.
5.163: Barryn Sorrell, EDGE — Texas
Sorrell is somewhat technique limited, but ranked in the Top 10 among defensive ends at the combine in athleticism rankings. In the NFL he projects as a 3-4 linebacker with a solid toolbox of pass rushing moves, though his future could be limited as he lacks elite top-end speed. Still, he can find a place as a rotational linebacker.
7.230: O’Donnell Fortune, CB — South Carolina
A long, slender cornerback with some ball hawk traits. Fortune is a depth defensive back with the ability to play zone in obvious pass schemes. At best could develop into a nickel, but this pick is about providing defensive options for Ejiro Evero.
