The 2025 NFL Draft is officially over and done with, so it’s time to hand out grades for the Carolina Panthers recent selections. After a promising finish to the 2024 campaign, Carolina has the chance to make some noise in what should be a weak NFC South. While they’re still rebuilding, the right picks can expedite the process and turn this team around a year or two earlier than expected.
Carolina Panthers 2025 NFL Draft Grades
Round 1 (8th Overall) – Tetairoa McMillan, WR
The Carolina Panthers knocked it out of the park with this one. Wide receiver is one of the most important positions in football, and Carolina selected the best one in this class (or at least, the best one that doesn’t also play cornerback). Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Ja’Tavion Sanders all flashed promise last year, but now the Panthers have a legitimate stud who can rival Mike Evans and Drake London as a big, downfield threat and should make Bryce Young’s life considerably easier.
Panthers Draft Grade: A+
Second Round (51st Overall) – Nic Scourton, EDGE
After jumping up and down the draft board early in the day, Carolina finally made their first selection with Nic Scourton in the second round. The Panthers need edge defenders in the worst way, and Scourton brings plenty of upside to the position. He has the size and strength to make it as a pro, but he’ll need to develop a few additional pass rush moves before he becomes a full-time starter. With the right coaching, Scourton should be a key part of this defensive line for years to come.
Panthers Draft Grade: A-
Nic Scourton NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (77th Overall) – Princely Umanmielen, EDGE
The Panthers returned to the trenches in the third round, and it’s easy to see why. Even with Scourton on board, Carolina needed another pass rusher, and Princely Umanmielen was a natural fit. Blessed with quick feet and burst, he’s a perfect choice to replace the departed Brian Burns and should immediately impact passing downs. There’s a good chance Carolina fixed their edge defense for years to come during Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Panthers Draft Grade: A
Princely Umanmielen NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (114th Overall): Trevor Etienne – RB
Did the Carolina Panthers really need another running back? Even if Jonathon Brooks won’t play this season, the team already has Chuba Hubbard locked up on a long-term deal and Rico Dowdle as an above-average backup. This wasn’t even a great value pick, as most analysts expected Etienne to go off the board in the fourth or fifth round. Maybe he can be a long-term backup, but it’s tough to get excited about this pick when running back is one of the few positions where Carolina has plenty of talent.
Panthers Draft Grade: D
Trevor Etienne NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (122nd Overall): Lathan Ransom – S
The Panthers get back on track with this pick. While Lathan Ransom is somewhat redundant with free agent signee Tre’Von Moehrig, you can never have too many hard-hitting safeties in the secondary. The Panthers had the NFL’s worst run defense last year, and Ransom should help address the issue.
Panthers Draft Grade: B+
Lathan Ransom NFL Draft Profile
Fifth Round (140th Overall): Cam Jackson – DT
As mentioned above, the Carolina Panthers couldn’t stop the run last year, so adding young talent to fortify the trenches makes all the sense in the world. While he won’t do much against the pass, he can clog up run lanes with the best of them. In the fifth round, you can’t ask for much more than that.
Panthers Draft Grade: A-
Fifth Round (163rd Overall): Mitchell Evans – TE
Good tight ends are hard to find, and the Panthers might have acquired one in Mitchell Evans. A classic jack of all trades, master of none, Evans should be an ok blocker as a rookie and has the potential to develop into a solid receiver. He won’t make many Pro Bowls, but he should last in the league as a high-end backup or low-end starter.
Panthers Draft Grade: B-
Mitchell Evans NFL Draft Profile
Sixth Round (208th Overall): Jimmy Horn – WR
The Panthers returned to the offensive side of the ball for their final draft pick of the night. Jimmy Horn may not have the ideal size for an NFL wide receiver, but he possesses impressive straight-line speed and can add some much-needed verticality to this offense. Chances are, he won’t become anything more than a one-dimensional deep threat who receives a handful of targets a year, but you can’t ask for anything more than that at this point in the draft.
Panthers Draft Grade: B
Main Photo: Tork Mason – Imagn Images
