Panthers Earn Impressive Spot In Consensus NFL Draft Grades

Panthers Earn Respectable Spot In Consensus Draft Grades

It’s easy to see why the Carolina Panthers had one of the league’s higher draft grades, as they added players at positions of need without reaching for lesser talents. The team kicked it off by selecting the best pure receiver in the class in Arizona State’s Tetairoa McMillan. While he probably would have been the fourth or fifth receiver off the board in last year’s loaded class, he’s still a great talent who should immediately contribute to this passing attack. Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders all showed promise last year, but McMillan has legitimate game-breaking potential and is an ideal fit for Bryce Young’s style of play.

The Panthers followed this up by double-dipping on edge defenders. While most teams avoid this strategy, Carolina’s dismal pass rush made this a smart decision. Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton and Florida’s Princely Umanmilen could both start for this unit and put Jadeveon Clowney on the trade block. With two young talents sandwiching star defensive tackle Derrick Brown and free agent signee TerShawn Wharton, Carolina might actually get after the quarterback in 2025.

Can They Win the Division?

Head coach Dave Canales took the job in 2024, knowing that rebuilding the Carolina Panthers would be a multi-year effort. Step 1 in the process was fixing 2023 first-round pick Bryce Young, and while he started the season slowly, he finished the season on a high note. Playing behind one of the league’s better offensive lines and complemented by a series of promising young playmakers, the offense should be in good shape for the 2025 season. This passing attack won’t make anyone forget about the 2007 New England Patriots, but it should be good enough to win games with a competent defense.

Carolina built their offense at the expense of the defense last year, and the unit’s horrific performance played a large role in the team’s 5-12 record. Fortunately, they heavily invested in the unit, signing Trevon Moehrig and extending Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn in the secondary. With the NFL Draft filling in the holes on the defensive line, the unit should play at a league-average level, which is well above what they were last year.

On paper, the Panthers look like an eight- or nine-win team, which might be enough to conquer a weak NFC South.