Vibes around the Carolina Panthers are much-improved from just three months ago. Second-year quarterback Bryce Young apparently found his lost talent after being benched for the better part of a month and now a franchise that was destined to reach for a quarterback can load up with talent around their guy.
It’s draft season. Let’s see who we can bring in to improve the team in this 7-round Carolina Panthers mock draft.
7-Round Carolina Panthers Mock Draft
I’m feeling kind today, so I’ll control my words.
The Carolina Panthers’ 2024 defense was one of the worst units I’ve ever seen on a football field. The defensive line is old and lacks pass-rushing juice, the linebackers are slow and struggle to tackle, and the secondary (outside of Jaycee Horn) is the worst in football.
But, the Panthers don’t want to abandon the newly-resurgent offense led by Young and a youthful core. So, it’s likely going to be best player available in several of these spots.
One thing in the Panthers’ favor is the depth at positions like safety and defensive line in this draft class. There aren’t many truly elite prospects in this class, but there are lots of Day 2 prospects. There’s a possibility I look to trade back and stash third and fourth-round picks to fill more holes, but I’ll have to decide based on the way the board falls.
Think you can do better? Give our Mock Draft Simulator a spin.
8) Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
This wasn’t the direction I was planning on going at No. 8, but I think the Panthers are in an awkward spot. In an ideal world, there’s a run on quarterbacks and offensive linemen ahead of them, allowing Mason Graham, Abdul Carter, or Travis Hunter to fall, but that looks unlikely.
Penn State Nittany Lions star Tyler Warren fits two needs. He’s a much-needed safety blanket for Young, but also, would immediately be the best run-blocker on the outside for the Panthers. That can’t be understated as this team refuses to get rid of Ian Thomas, simply because he’s the best blocker at tight end.
57) Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
While I don’t expect Florida State corner Azareye’h Thomas to fall this far, there’s a ton of secondary talent at the top of this draft and somebody could fall this far. It’s a numbers game.
Thomas has length and versatility that Ejiro Evero has been missing in the secondary. Across from Horn, Thomas can be an immediate starter as the Panthers attempt to retool the back end of the defense.
74) Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
I’m a fan of Texas Longhorns safety Andrew Mukuba, who we have ranked inside the top 70 in our CSN Top 300. Mukuba’s position shifted to more of a deep safety role after playing primarily as a slot corner at Clemson.
He’s best in zone coverage and has substantially more range than anyone the Panthers have on the roster at the position.
110) Jared Ivey, EDGE, Ole Miss
I’m buying stock in Ole Miss edge rusher Jared Ivey. He’s not the fleetest of foot, but at 6’6″, 283 pounds, he can bully offensive linemen. Add to that an impressive array of pass-rushing moves and a better pass-rush play than most and he’s a high-floor power rusher.
The Panthers need help on the edge and looking at bigger edge rushers who can slide inside a play a 5-technique or even 3-technique to eat up space for the outside linebackers might be the way to go.
113) Ricky White, WR, UNLV
Ricky White is one of my favorite receivers in the draft. The UNLV Rebels star is a strong route-runner with excellent production. Perhaps most importantly for this range in the draft, he was the best special teams player in the country, blocking four kicks and returning a fifth block for a touchdown.
His floor is among the highest in the class, and he’ll stick on a roster, taking pressure off of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
Full Ricky White Scouting Report, including strengths, areas of improvement, and draft projection
141) Jonah Monheim, OC, USC
I really wanted to give the Panthers more offensive line help earlier than this, but this is the way the chips fell. For once, the offensive line isn’t a glaring weakness, but more interior depth is key.
USC Trojans interior lineman Jonah Monheim has experience at LT, RT, RG, and center, where he started every game for the Trojans in 2024. If you want to make a roster as a mid-to-late round offensive linemen, play all of the positions.
147) Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV
If you’re looking for a guy who could fly up draft boards, look no further than Jackson Woodard, who nearly gave up football a few years ago. Now, he has the chance to be a mid-round pick in a weird linebacker class.
He can fly and he was everywhere as a senior, racking up four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. That’s an upgrade at linebacker for the Panthers, who struggled with depth issues last season.
KEEP READING: 2025 NFL Draft Ultimate Top 300 Big Board
164) Aeneas Peebles, IDL, Virginia Tech
Though he’s undersized, Virginia Tech Hokies interior defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles is extremely disruptive, a guy in the mold of former Pittsburgh Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Don’t be turned off by his lack of elite sack production at the college level, he had 60 pressures in his final two years. The Panthers could use an interior presence like Peebles.
229) Andres Borregales, K, Miami (FL)
I will not stand for the Panthers having a kicker they can’t trust to kick a 50-yarder anymore. Miami Hurricanes kicker Andres Borregales was 40-45 in his last two years, including being 6-8 from beyond 50 yards.
At the very least, the Panthers need to bring in training camp competition for Eddy Pineiro, who has been mostly accurate from inside 40, but is less than 80% from beyond 40 yards.
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