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Carolina Panthers 7-round NFL mock draft: Bryce Young gets himself a couple of dynamic weapons, and a defensive makeover
Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Carolina Panthers 7-round NFL mock draft: Bryce Young gets himself a couple of dynamic weapons, and a defensive makeover

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By Ryan Roberts  |  Last updated Apr 21, 2025 1:33 PM ET

The Carolina Panthers are one of the more interesting teams in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. They looked terrible early on in 2024, but did seem to be maturing down the stretch of last season. The offense, led by quarterback Bryce Young, showed signs of growth in the second half of the year. Continuing that momentum will be important, as well as upgrading the overall talent on defense. 

The 2025 NFL Draft is going to be important for head coach Dave Canales and the Panthers organization to hopefully take the next step. Supporting Young was a priority early on in this final 7-round mock draft. From there, the defense got most of the attention. 

Round 1, Pick 8: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

The top tight end for the Panthers right now is Tommy Tremble, which means finding an upgrade should be in the cards. Warren is a massive athlete at 6-6 and almost 260 pounds. He brings a low of power, versatility, and the talent to be a difference maker in several areas. 

Round 2, Pick 57: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

After trading away defensive end Brian Burns last offseason, the Panthers must find some upgrades to their pass rush. Umanmielen is a really gifted pass rusher with bend, closing speed, and even more upside to tap into. 

Round 3, Pick 74: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

With the pleasant signs that Bryce Young showed down the stretch, continuing to put wide receiver talent around him is a major priority. Royals has the explosiveness and release package to play on the outside. He is also a YAC threat that could do some interesting things from the slot. 

Round 4, Pick 111: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

Slightly underrated due to his size, there isn’t a better processor on the second level in the class than Paul. He’s one of those linebackers who also seems to be in the right spot. Combine that with good range, and you have a future starter at WILL backer. 

Round 4, Pick 114: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

Bryant isn’t the biggest cornerback in the 2025 class, but don’t tell him that. He plays a tenacious style that should allow him to stick on the outside, or also project in at the nickel. This could end up being one of the best value picks in the entire class. 

Round 5, Pick 140: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss

The underrated member of a really talented Ole Miss defensive line, Peagues is one of the more interesting players in the 2025 draft class. He is a ball of chaos on the interior, who is also athletic enough to play wildcat at well over 300 pounds. 

Round 5, Pick 146: Jackson Slater, OG, Sacramento State

Slater played a ton of football for Sacramento State during his career, possessing a nice blend of power and athleticism. There is a pretty easy projection for Slater as a solid swing player on the interior. 

Round 5, Pick 163: Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland

Coming into the 2024 college football season, most people expected Prather to take a sizable jump. Prather didn’t quite take that leap, but he still boasts a really nice blend of size, long speed, and hip sink. There is still a lot of developmental upside here. 

Round 7, Pick 230: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

Rourke was tremendous for the Hoosiers in 2024, which is even crazier when you consider he was playing through an ACL injury a large portion of it. The former Ohio transfer boasts a big frame, solid athleticism, and a good enough arm to stick as a backup on the next level.  

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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