CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The 2025 NFL draft (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) is underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Carolina Panthers kicked things off with Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 pick of Round 1.
Here is a breakdown of each Panthers pick:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 8: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
My take: Using the eighth pick on another weapon for quarterback Bryce Young instead of improving the NFL's last-place 2024 defense shows the Panthers didn't have a player on their board outside of Michigan DT Mason Graham (No. 5 to Browns) who they felt would make an immediate impact. It also shows they believe the defensive additions in free agency were solid enough to allow them to stick to their board and take their highest-rated remaining player. It also suggests they aren't convinced 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette can be a true No. 1 receiver.
Will he start as a rookie? You don't take a receiver at No. 8 with so many defensive needs unless you believe McMillan will make an immediate impact. Young, according to coach Dave Canales, already is excited about the pick. Perhaps that's because Legette was so inconsistent last season. Look for McMillan to step right into the starting lineup alongside veteran Adam Thielen, while Legette aims to earn the right to join them. Rookie receivers sometimes struggle, but McMillan's size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and speed (4.48 40-yar dash) make him a possession receiver who can grow in this offense.
Key Stat: McMillan had 174 catches for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns the past two seasons, so his production has been impressive. He may be a bit rough in route running, but he'll give Young a big, fast target in the red zone that was missing the past two seasons outside of Thielen, who is 34. When Graham went off the board to Cleveland, McMillan's production ranked ahead of what Carolina felt it could get in defensive players on the board.
Check out some of the top highlights from NC State's Anthony Belton.
Round 2, No. 51: Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
My take: The Panthers had to get an edge rusher in the second round after passing on one in the first round, particularly with Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum entering the last year of their respective contracts, and Clowney's future with the team in doubt (see below). So it's no surprise they traded with Denver to go from 57 to 51 to get one, as the options were dwindling. Scourton has the physical aspects to be a three-down player and is disruptive at rushing quarterbacks. He's not stellar against the run, so that's an issue. But he fits a lot attributes Carolina wants in a 3-4 OLB and they don't need him to start, so he can learn as a rookie.
Key stat for this player: 285 pounds. That's what Scourton weighed after the season, but he spent the offseason working his weight down to 257. He said he is stronger, faster and quicker. He also feels better, having changed his diet as well. He doesn't believe the weight during the season had anything to do with a drop in sack production. He said that had a lot to do with the system. But he does believe losing the weight has prepared him better for the NFL.
Check out some of the top highlights from Ole Miss' Princely Umanmielen.
Round 3, No. 77: Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Mississippi
My take: Clowney is 32 and may be on the way out. Taking two edge rushers on Day 2 gives the Panthers six on the depth chart. When general manager Dan Morgan was asked Friday if the plan was to keep Clowney, he simply said the roster is being evaluated. Not an endorsement for an aging former Pro Bowl player who had only 5.5 sacks in 2024 and has a $13.775 million cap hit in 2025. Morgan wants to build a young, aggressive defense and this may signal a changing of the guard.
Will he start as a rookie? All bets are off as to whether the Panthers will have Umanmielen and Scourton use 2025 as a developmental year or play right away. But Morgan said he never expected to get both edge rushers and didn't rule out that the pair could be ready to start. The future of this team's defense may now be in the hands of these young, high-drafted players.
Round 4, No. 111: Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
My take: It was doubtful that 2024 second-round running back Jonathon Brooks would be recovered from ACL surgery to play this season, and this pretty much seals that he won't. The Panthers now have Chuba Hubbard and free agent signee Rico Dowdle, both with more than 1,000 yards rushing last season, to go along with Etienne. The younger brother of Jaguars back Travis Etienne Jr. should be primarily a return specialist and change-of-pace back this season. But using a draft pick here shows Carolina's commitment to the running game.
Round 4, No. 122: Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
My take: The Panthers had to have a safety after moving on from veteran Xavier Woods. Ransom will have a chance to start opposite safety Tre'von Moehrig, signed to a three-year, $51 million deal in free agency. Ransom spent five years at Ohio State and played a big role against top competition, playing in 56 games. He isn't super fast, but he is strong, quick and solid against the run, something the Panthers weren't last season.
Round 5 No. 140 (from Giants): Cam Jackson, NT, Florida
My take: When you're the worst team in the NFL at stopping the run, you look for run stoppers. Jackson is that. At 6-6 and 328 pounds he is massive and will take up space inside that will allow Carolina's linebackers to make tackles out of the 3-4 scheme. He'll need some polish on his pass rush, but GM Dan Morgan didn't take him to make sacks. Another SEC player who knows what it's like to face top competition.
Round 5, No. 163: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
My take: Another big (6-5, 260) target for Young. Evans is a more versatile tight end than Tommy Tremble, the 2021 third-rounder out of Notre Dame, because he is a better blocker in the run game, though Evans is also a dependable receiver. He led the Irish with 43 catches for 421 yards last season. The concern might be that he had only three touchdown catches and Young needs that threat in the red zone. Evans' versatility could mean more two-TE sets with receiving threat Ja'Tavion Sanders, a fourth-round pick last season.
Round 6, No. 208: Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado
My take: The Panthers truly believe they set themselves up in free agency to take the best player available and not just defensive players to fix the league's worst defense. While they did meet a lot of defensive needs, they took two wide receivers, a running back and a tight end. So they helped both sides of the ball. In Horn they added a slot receiver who has decent speed and can help in the return game. Not what one would have expected three days ago.
Remaining picks
Round 7: No. 230 (from Cardinals)