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Re-Grading the Carolina Panthers 2025 Draft

Originally posted on Football Analysis | By Aaron Sauter | Last updated Mar 22, 2026 11:51 PM ET

Timing is everything, and for the Carolina Panthers, the 2025 draft, executed by GM Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, is being viewed as the class that allowed the Panthers to turn the corner. After posting a disappointing 8-9 record in 2024, the Panthers had a breakout season, winning the NFC South division championship. In addition, the Panthers earned the opportunity to host a playoff game and nearly upset the Los Angeles Rams with a gritty performance.

Heading into the 2025 draft, Dan Morgan discussed what he had described as his “aggressive drafting” approach to making draft day decisions. That philosophy allowed the Panthers to land wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as their first-round draft pick, and he became the first Panthers receiver since Steve Smith to surpass 1000 receiving yards. In addition, McMillan scored 7 touchdowns and was the recipient of the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2025.

Carolina Panthers 2025 Draft Class

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	8	Tetairoa McMillan	WR
2	51	Nic Scourton	EDGE
3	77	Princely Umanmielen	EDGE
4	114	Trevor Etienne	RB
4	122	Lathan Ransom	S
5	140	Cam Jackson	DT
5	163	Mitchell Evans	TE
6	208	Jimmy Horn Jr.	WR

n addition to getting a top-end playmaker on the offensive side of the ball with McMillan, the Panthers also traded up in the second round to select edge rusher Nic Scourton. Scourton played all 17 games for the Panthers, and he registered 5.0 quarterback sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and a strip sack. All indications are that Scourton will quickly become a 10-sack-per-season edge rusher for Carolina.

In the fourth round, the Panthers got the steal of the middle rounds by picking safety Lathan Ransom, who played primarily in sub-packages and provided depth behind the starters in Ejiro Evero’s defense; he is projected to develop into a full-time starter. In the late rounds, the Panthers landed tight end Mitchell Evans, who contributed as the second-string tight end and became a reliable safety valve for quarterback Bryce Young on short and intermediate routes. Sixth-round pick wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. saw limited reps as a situational deep threat and primarily contributed on special teams, but showcased his elite speed when called upon in passing situations.

Carolina Panthers 2025 Draft Re-Grade = B+

During the 2025 season, the Carolina Panthers’ offense jumped from 32nd in scoring to 27th in scoring. In addition, the Panthers’ defense improved to 15th in points allowed. The combination of their improvements on offense and defense was enough to get the Panthers back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. For Carolina to take the next step, which is to be a contender to win the NFC, Dan Morgan and Dave Canales will need to have another run during the 2026 draft.

Make sure that you check out, Re-Grading the New York Giants 2025 Draft

This article first appeared on Football Analysis and was syndicated with permission.

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