raleigh-panther

Ny Times Jaylin Walker to Raiders 8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia The second Georgia player to go in the top 10, Williams was injured in the 2024 opener against Clemson and didn’t get to play much in the first half of last season. But he was back for a big game at Texas in October and gave UT fits, notching two sacks. He had two more sacks against the Longhorns in the SEC title game. The 6-5, 260-pounder has 34 1/2-inch arms with potential that makes D-line coaches giddy. “He was banged up a lot this year, but when he was close to 100 percent, he’s super twitchy,” an SEC tight ends coach said. “He’s a freak.” He’ll boost a Carolina team that had the worst pass rush in the league. “He’s more of the traditional defensive end guy than Walker,” said an SEC O-line coach who was really impressed by both Georgia players. “He can either be that 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 end. He has real pass rush ability. I think he’s an elite edge rusher. He’s great chasing from behind, and he can play the run well enough.” ESPN Rd 1 8. Carolina Panthers Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia The Panthers have made a series of edge rusher investments over the past two years, but none has massively moved the needle. The Panthers -- who allowed the most yards per play (6.0) and tied for the third-fewest sacks (32) last season -- could truly address their need in the top 10, though. Walker had 6.5 sacks in 2024 even though he spent a lot of his time patrolling the middle of the field at off-ball linebacker. Carolina could deploy Walker in a hybrid role since it needs a boost at both linebacker and edge rusher. rd 2 57. Carolina Panthers (via LAR) Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State At 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, Noel might be a better fit in the slot than outside. But he has serious explosion, averaging 14.9 yards per catch last season en route to 1,194 yards and eight scores. Noel could join Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker to form an intriguing young WR corps. NFL.COM. IDEAL FIRST 2 picks Round 1: No. 8 overall: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State Round 2: No. 57 overall: Kevin Winston Jr. S, Penn State The Panthers might have bigger needs on their roster than at tight end, but they are unlikely to find a more impactful player on offense than Warren. His presence as a safety valve and red-zone threat would aid Bryce Young's progression as a third-year starter. In this scenario, they take Winston -- a rangy, secure tackler -- to play beside free-agent pick-up Tre'von Moehrig. By taking two prospects from the same school with their first two picks, they follow the lead of the Rams (who actually traded Carolina this year's 57th overall pick as part of the process of pairing Jared Verse and Braden Fiske of Florida State) and Jaguars (who took Brian Thomas Jr. and Maason Smith out of LSU) last year.

Could be a smokescreen or ‘water is wet’ Canales stopped by the set of Up & Adams on Monday, at the site of the league's annual meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. Host Kay Adams asked him about the potential direction of the eighth overall selection. DAVE C ‘To be in this position, in my mind, when you have an opportunity to pick in the top 10 of the draft, we're doing all the work on making sure we identify the best available player," Canales replied. "We've had some great conversations about some offensive playmakers in this class, some defensive playmakers—and we've come away with saying, 'Ok, look, we are going to get a great player. Let's make sure we have the right guy, the right fit. Somebody that we want to be a Panther for a long time.' So that's really where our conversations are." Disappointed with Canales' initial lack of details, Adams then prodded for more. And after a little banter about needing a wide receiver, Canales dug a bit deeper. "We have to address the needs on defense first," he added. "We're 32nd in the NFL in defense, and that's something where our focus has gone to—to make sure that we can play good, balanced, complementary football‘

1.8: Shemar Stewart, EDGE — Texas A&M There are a lot of pass rushers in this class, but only two I believe can become transcendent talents: Abdul Carter and Shemar Stewart. This is a pick that has serious boom-or-bust elements to it, which is why Stewart will almost assuredly be available at No. 8, rather than being a Top 3 pick. Why Stewart didn’t produce in college is an absolute mystery based on his unicorn physical traits. That’s the biggest red flag here. However, the Panthers are a team that likes to take physical outliers with the belief they can coach them into the players they want them to be. If Carolina can do this with Stewart there’s a very real chance he could emulate former Aggie Von Miller and have a similar impact in the NFL. Yes, he’s potentially that good, and the Panthers won’t pass on that upside — even if it feels like a reach on draft night. 2.57: Benjamin Morrison, CB — Notre Dame The possibility of a defensive lineman looms large here, but in my simulated mocks the class didn’t break in a way that allowed it to happen with the 57th pick. Instead the Panthers sure up their secondary with Morrison, who could easily start on the outside across from Jaycee Horn. Pass defense was a big issue for Carolina a year ago and while their tendency is to work inside-out and use pressure as pseudo pass defense, they can’t afford to go into the season with their secondary depth chart as it currently stands. Morrison is a ball hawk who can help the Panthers win the turnover battle, which is a great trait considering that Bryce Young has become a fairly reliable hand under center who doesn’t throw a lot of picks. 3.74: Jayden Higgins, WR — Iowa State Much in the vein of the Shemar Stewart pick, this follows the Panthers’ ideal that you can’t teach size. At 6-4, 215 pounds there are shades of a poor man’s Mike Evans here — and that will intrigue Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. Higgins is far from the perfect prospect, and at this point he will need a focused, limited system that doesn’t ask him to do too much initially. That makes Carolina a solid home where he’ll be the fourth receiver out of the gate behind Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker. The idea wouldn’t be for Higgins to contribute greatly in year one, but put himself in a position to become the No. 3 option when Thielen presumably retires from the league after the 2025 season. Another “we can coach him up” pick, this is a solid place to get a big-bodied target for Young. 4.111: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB — South Carolina Making the difficult decision to part ways with team leader Shaq Thompson was a necessary pain point of the offseason. Now the draft affords the Panthers a chance to find his replacement. Carolina needs a tackling machine to pair with Josey Jewell inside the Panthers’ 3-4 defense — and Knight Jr. is an ideal fit for everything the Panthers like from their inside backers. He’s smart, instinctual, and while he might not have top-tier athleticism, he’s playing a position which doesn’t necessarily require elite measurables. When there’s a chance you can land a reliable starter in the fourth round or later, you take it. It’s for this reason I think the former Gamecock would be a great addition to the defense. 4.114: Kevin Winston Jr, S — Penn State A raw prospect, but the kind of player the Panthers love in the back-end of the draft. Missed the 2024 season due to injury, but that hasn’t scared Carolina in the past. This is another physical tools type guy who has the potential to be coached up. Filling the secondary with depth should be a major focus for the Panthers in the draft, and Winston Jr. is an upside player who could very easily develop into a starter. 5.140: Jordan Phillips, DT — Maryland Projects primarily as a run gap stuffer in the pros, Phillips is a back-end pick designed to add to the DL rotation as the team gets older. Can immediately have a place thanks to his high football IQ, and while he’s not the most athletic player in the class, coaches have praised his work ethic. 5.146: Jamaree Caldwell, DT — Oregon A big-bodied nose tackle with the potential to develop into Shy Tuttle’s replacement in the 3-4 front with coaching. Caldwell can eat space, but has also shown limited flashes as a pass rusher — which could allow for for scheme flexibility. 5.163: Barryn Sorrell, EDGE — Texas Sorrell is somewhat technique limited, but ranked in the Top 10 among defensive ends at the combine in athleticism rankings. In the NFL he projects as a 3-4 linebacker with a solid toolbox of pass rushing moves, though his future could be limited as he lacks elite top-end speed. Still, he can find a place as a rotational linebacker. 7.230: O’Donnell Fortune, CB — South Carolina A long, slender cornerback with some ball hawk traits. Fortune is a depth defensive back with the ability to play zone in obvious pass schemes. At best could develop into a nickel, but this pick is about providing defensive options for Ejiro Evero.

It is all water over the dam now there is no going back we either win with Bryce this year or a new qb in 2026 i am hoping for the fans and the franchise that he is at least a serviceable qb in 2025 i loved cam but it is over we all know in the current nfl, if you ain't got a qb, you ain't got nothing Simple and plain let us hope we have something vs this continued dissection of the past good luck bryce

He might still be never know…if he is there the raiders arent sad about brock browers id take him who helps his young qb and the oline too and the receivers vs a maybe DE that is liked by a possible short term DC in a scheme that might change when he leaves and make mo mistake, he is leaving but im different in that view than most on here

Praise the good Lord

I guess, where im at, is simply this a player in the top 10 of rd 1 should be a starter…not a project, not potential, a starter, ….not someone with question marks about injuries, character or motor …the film doesn’t lie…RAS scores do…RAS is part of the eval…but it is the film that tells the story …as this is the top 10 of the best players in college football that grade well in transition to nfl your team should be instantly better by the addition yes, I understand qb is the exception as it is the hardest position on the nfl to play im not talking qb here. If the best player is that TE, take him…if it’s the DT and he is there, take him and don’t look back

from Thursday’s Athletic Mock 8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia After considering offers from the Steelers for George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Panthers stay put and are the first team to draft a Georgia defender (in part because the Eagles aren’t picking until 32). Using a top-10 pick on a player with minimal production in college is a risk, no matter Williams’ physical gifts (which are many). But the Panthers are banking on big upside from one of the youngest players in the draft – one whose final season at Georgia was slowed by a high ankle sprain. Williams’ best games came against top competition: He had two sacks in a victory over then-No. 1 Texas, two more sacks in the SEC Championship triumph over Texas and three pressures in an opening-week win versus Clemson when he initially hurt his ankle. — Joseph Person

From the Athletic on Thursday 8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia After considering offers from the Steelers for George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Panthers stay put and are the first team to draft a Georgia defender (in part because the Eagles aren’t picking until 32). Using a top-10 pick on a player with minimal production in college is a risk, no matter Williams’ physical gifts (which are many). But the Panthers are banking on big upside from one of the youngest players in the draft – one whose final season at Georgia was slowed by a high ankle sprain. Williams’ best games came against top competition: He had two sacks in a victory over then-No. 1 Texas, two more sacks in the SEC Championship triumph over Texas and three pressures in an opening-week win versus Clemson when he initially hurt his ankle. — Joseph Person

Yep honestly, not sure I want Evero making the pick or influencing the pick either…doubtful that he is here next year and wasn’t he pounding the table to trade up for DJ (might’ve been Baron, I forget, but both Baron and DJ are forgettable in any case ) as much as they need an Edge, rd 1 pick, particularly a top 10 pick, needs to be a starter imho. I don’t care if it’s Warren, just be an immediate contributor that makes the team better

Guess I should have added not have hands of stone

The Panthers offense needs speed at the WR position they don’t have it if they trade, or draft someone, who does not have that, to take the over the top off the defense, it is of no value right now, they have possession receivers, add that speed receiver and that offense can take off

Evero, and his somewhat changed staff, needs to perform this year ’historically bad’ a bridge too far for me

We could just be excited that the current Gm and coach have a plan and are doing their best to execute it pro sports is about money. So is college