Bryce Young showed some signs of growth down the stretch of last season, and that has this Carolina Panthers team trending in the right direction for the first time in recent memory (seven straight seasons with under eight wins, second only to the Jets in terms of the longest active streak).
What should the expectations be for 2025? We break down their draft picks and how they fit into this developing roster during this extended rebuild.
Looking for all 32 teams’ draft grades? Head to our 2025 NFL Draft Grades for All 32 Teams Tracker to see how we’ve graded other drafts.
Overall Panthers Draft Grade: A
In the NBA, sharp teams draft three-point threats and rim runners – the days of the midrange are long gone, so why not focus on the most valuable spots on the court?
The football equivalent of that, once you have the quarterback position addressed, is pass catchers and pass rushers.
Tetairoa McMillan is a 6’4” weapon for Bryce Young to develop alongside. The pick was a bit surprising, but Young showed enough down the stretch of last season to give this franchise hope that their rebuild is starting to trend up. Adam Thielen is the veteran receiver on this roster, but he’s clearly on the back-9 of his career, and there’s nothing in the way of proven talent at the position around him.
The Panthers are playing the “cast a wide net” game, adding McMillan to Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. They don’t need to hit on all three of those receivers – they just need Young to be comfortable and to elevate one of them to alpha status.
Carolina has ranked dead last in pressure rate in each of the past two seasons, making a doubling down on rookie EDGE rushers a plenty reasonable plan. Nic Scourton was their second round pick and looked the part of a true game-changer at Texas A&M this past season due to his ability to impact both the run and pass game.
We will see if Young is the answer under center, but if he is, don’t be surprised if this Carolina team is in the playoff picture sooner rather than later.
Grades for Every Panthers Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 8
Tetairoa McMillan, WR | Arizona
Grade: B+
There was never a lot of smoke connecting Tetairoa McMillan to the Panthers, but that’s why what happens on draft night matters. This pairing flew under the radar, but Carolina had an obvious need for additional weaponry with Bryce Young on the upswing. They get that weaponry with McMillan.
This is a slight reach on PFSN’s board, and the key developmental point for McMillan, early on in his career, will be beating press coverage. He has the requisite quickness and size but is unrefined in that phase, and he’ll have to grow there if he wants to become a true WR1.
Nevertheless, if any offensive mind knows how to use his talent and scheme opportunities, it’s head coach Dave Canales. McMillan can be an elite chain-moving and vertical threat with his explosiveness, body control, and hand strength. With his elite size-adjusted agility and fluidity at 6’4”, 218 pounds, he can slash through zone coverage, accrue RAC, and be a Day 1 safety blanket for Young.
- Round 2, Pick 51
Nic Scourton, EDGE | Texas A&M
Grade: A+
The board fell very favorably for the Panthers in Round 2, but they also made the calculated decision to trade up and be aggressive when a chance came to add an impact player at positive value. With the 51st pick, acquired from Denver, the Panthers added edge rusher Nic Scourton.
At 6’3”, 261 pounds, Scourton is a dense, well-leveraged EDGE who defies logic with the finesse and lower-body flexibility he possesses at that size. Of the EDGE prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, he’s one of the most advanced and workmanlike players with his hands.
He’ll fit well as a wide-alignment rusher in Ejiro Evero’s scheme with his power and proactivity, but he also has a sturdy run defense profile on top of it all.
- Round 3, Pick 77
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE | Ole Miss
Grade: A-
The Panthers double-dipped on edge rushers on Day 2, a good idea for last year’s 32nd-ranked pass rush by pressure rate (25.1%). Princely Umanmielen might end up as a pure designated pass rusher, but he can still bring plenty of value if he hits his ceiling.
The Ole Miss product was highly productive the last two years, recording 17.5 sacks and 26 TFLs. His speed and first-step explosiveness are his selling points, and he should fit in nicely as a stand-up linebacker in Carolina’s 3-4 scheme.
He’s not the biggest edge rusher (6’4”, 244 pounds), but should get the job done on passing downs.
- Round 4, Pick 114
Trevor Etienne, RB | Georgia
Grade: C
The Panthers now have significant depth at the running back position. They moved on from Miles Sanders. Chuba Hubbard’s career year in 2024 made the decision to cut ties with the underperforming Sanders that much easier.
Carolina also added Rico Dowdle in free agency, creating an intriguing 1-2 punch. Jonathon Brooks has suffered multiple knee injuries, so it makes sense to add depth, but Etienne may have been around later.
Etienne is a shifty runner with good vision but a bit undersized. He also lacks play strength, which causes him to struggle in pass protection. His speed and elusiveness after the catch as a receiver make him an enticing prospect. However, it’s hard to imagine the Panthers fielding a four-RB rotation.
- Round 4, Pick 122
Lathan Ransom, S | Ohio State
Grade: A
Safety was a huge need for the Panthers, even after signing Tre’von Moehrig to the richest safety deal in this year’s free agency class. Lathan Ransom is a burly box safety who should pair nicely with Moehrig, as the ex-Raiders DB has played a lot of deep centerfield snaps in his career.
Ransom broke out as a fifth-year senior for the national champs in 2024, recording 9 TFLs and three forced fumbles. He shines against the run but has some coverage limitations and needs to clean up his tackling to be a truly effective starter. Still, given how thin the Panthers were at safety apart from Moehrig, Ransom should have a chance to play immediately.
- Round 5, Pick 140
Cam Jackson, DT | Florida
Grade: A - Round 5, Pick 163
Mitchell Evans, TE | Notre Dame
Grade: B+
- Round 6, Pick 208
Jimmy Horn Jr., WR | Colorado
Grade: B
