Carolina Panthers 2025 NFL Draft with Jordan Reid of ESPN

[@999FMTheFan]

Who should the Panthers draft with the No. 8 pick? Let us know!

[@TheFanRookie]

Mason Graham if he’s there. If he’s gone, Jalon Walker’s versatility is intriguing because he might be able to fit into multiple defenses if the Panthers move on from Evero.

[@Haven2014]

Mike Green tape has been impressive the more I watch..

[@cehiggins.author]

Regardless of which way the team goes I'm confident based off last year's draft haul that Dan Morgan will make the right decision - the only player out of the '24 draft who didn't produce was Johnathan Brooks, and that was due to injury. As to who they should pick, based off running some draft apps (admittedly not the most accurate way of evaluating these things) and reading reports on various prospects, I'd like to see edge rusher be emphasized in the first two rounds. Seeing as how Abdul Carter almost certainly won't be there at the eighth selection, the more realistic options would be either Mason Graham (who would be a steal at that spot) or Malachi Starks - adding impact players at other levels of the defense other than edge rusher will still improve the defense. Tetairoa McMillian looks like an intriguing prospect but Canales' staff already addressed wideout last year and has proven it can develop receivers (witness Jalen Coker's ascension as a rookie).

[@fayettenom2681]

Abdul Carter, graham, will johnson, or Starks if they are available. If not trade back for Pearce JR or Nick Schroton.

[@kevinoshields7073]

Abdul Carter, Kyle Kennard

[@1Boxybrown]

Kuechly was drafted 9th, so we have a lot of history drafting in that late top 10 spot and hitting on some great players. Let's hope Morgan keeps that tradition alive 🤞

[@toogoodgaming4721]

Vernon Butler was not taken at number eight, he was taken at 30.

[@dukeblue3793]

Clearly you didn’t get the joke! He was saying ATE

[@fayettenom2681]

Butler was a bust! That’s why where you draft matters

[@Stiq_912]

Will Johnson is the pick if he falls to 8. If not, I’d take Tet or Walker. Ideally, I would trade back.

[@AMC5274]

Have a sinking suspicion that Mason Graham will be there. Him or Tet is my gut feeling.

[@montrezmcclain1523]

Would love to see Tet!! Haven't drafted a WR like this ever in my opinion.

[@j3r0m36]

Who would you trade back for in the first round? I wouldn't go past pick 15.

[@Stiq_912]

@@j3r0m36 it depends how far back I traded. If I were between 10-14: Walker / Pearce / Starks / Burden. If I landed 15~18 (2026 1st compensation is a must): Scourton / Morrison / Egbuka / Best DL.

[@Stiq_912]

@ I’m with you. I really like Walker but I don’t believe he’s a better player than Tet, at face value. I know WR is not priority but I’m taking BPA. I’d honest consider OT if Moton wasn’t owed so much money. We will likely get a shot at the two best OTs in the draft.

[@Skoopatroopa]

I don't keep up with college football enough to be able to contribute to the drafting discussion, but I do know that you guys added in a clip of fans chanting "Keep Pounding" in the intro! Sounds a lot more genuine; a show by fans for fans, thumbs up emoji.

[@matthewthreatt7443]

Great guest. Super insightful and knowledgeable.

[@999FMTheFan]

We appreciate Jordan's time!

[@JamesHolmes-s2d]

Chris Lea is a SWHS 336 Alumni??

[@matthewbumgarner9928]

If A.Carter is there or Mason Graham you gotta take 1 of those guys If anybody trades up and its remotely a decent haul you take it and move back some But we are sticking and picking then go BPA on defense side

[@Venothor90]

Panther Nation needs to have faith in Dan Morgan and his scouting team. This Dan’s Super Bowl time. He’s a great scout and we’ve seen that with this passed draft class.

[@cehiggins.author]

Agreed. Morgan nailed his first draft and there's every reason to think he'll do the same this time around.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

This last draft was awful, I have no faith in his scouting committee. A blind man knew Mcckonkey would be better than Leggette.

[@Venothor90]

@@dustinbarlow1623 they said when drafting him that he was going to be a developmental piece. They knew what they were signing up for. They like his big body, 50/50 ball catching ability and his YAC. He struggled this season but so have other big body receivers in their rookie years like AJ Brown and DK Metcalf, who are both the same body structure as XL. And aside from that the rest of the draft became starters their rookie years when they should have had time to develop further but rose to the occasion when they were called upon.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

@@Venothor90 I dont draft developmental pieces when an already developed receiver is still on the board. And his hands wont ever develop. You either have that or you dont. Morgans entire draft class last year outside JT Sanders was pure garbage. Leggette wont survive a roster spot if his hands dont vastly improve this year. He dropped the most balls of any rookie receiver in this past draft. There is development, then there are guys who just flat out cant catch, Leggette is the later of the two.

[@Venothor90]

@ well that’s why we arent GM’s of any team. We don’t have the knowledge that they do, or the resources. Team building requires looking at the present and future. And we clearly disagree with each other on how this last draft class was so we can agree to disagree. I think other than Barrett the rookies did pretty well. Wallace and CSW were called to be starters after being taken day 3 which is wild and performed to the best they could given the support staff around them. JT Sanders played really well until the neck injury, and Brooks looked really well in the small sample size we got from him. However now that he’s injured his ACL in back to back years, he might not ever play the position the same again which is extremely unfortunate. Crumedy was always meant to be a depth piece and played the role.

[@mustymartian8684]

Ashton Jeanty or Tetairoa McMillan

[@AFerg]

Only offensive player they should take in the 1st is Tmac and thats only if Carter and Graham are already gone

[@daltonburbage6522]

Maybe Luther to

[@AFerg]

@daltonburbage6522 I think you could trade back for an extra day 2 pick and still get Luther and could see that as a good option.

[@PantherPickle]

James Pearce Jr is a hot or cold player and Often runs Very Cold and

[@5thurm5]

I need all 9 draft picks on defense 😂 build offense through free agency

[@bobbyp654]

GOOD MORNING #KEEPPOUNDING

[@999FMTheFan]

🗣

[@vintage2983]

I hope we don’t go the hometown route, just get the best player at that point…that’s all fans would ask for.

[@Maurice3774]

We need to stop wanting to get players who you gotta pay big money when we broke build the right way through the draft

[@dajohnson704]

Jalon Walker is the Pick. Dan Morgan wants dawgs go get him from Athens. Plus he’s from Salisbury NC.

[@ericdunlap494]

Walker would be a good pick. Or Mason Graham. Or Starks at S. Starks has athleticism and strong character. Any of the three would strengthen the run D. Won't get any of these 3 in 2nd.

[@fasscovington3359]

Best defensive player available

[@Double0Kane]

I like Mike Green if Carter is gone....if he's gone Starks at #8

[@jsn23nc]

Jalon Walker a huge reach at 8th pick. Too small to be an every down defensive End

[@montrezmcclain1523]

Thank u!!!

[@brooklyn_boy3323]

He's a hybrid lol; he can play de,and linebacker. Think of him being another luvu. He has instincts, tackles well,and is a play maker. Clowney and wonnum still on the team; wouldn't need him to be a every down dE . Look up clowney win ratio against the run and QB pressures; stats don't look great but he was impactful In some area's ;top 10 in certain categories. This draft is deep we can get a stud DE in round 2. It's other players I would take at 1 but he isn't considered a reach.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

We need to draft guys who can play in multiple fronts. Regardless of what anyone says, Evero is not surviving this year. Either they let him walk after his contract is up, or they fire him.

[@VoCalSkillz13]

My fellow Eagle, Jordan 🙌🏿

[@homiegotbeats8630]

Walks to podium.... (Ahem )... TET MCMILLAN.. have a goodnight

[@marquesstofford988]

Hopefully Jalon walker he a beast and he from Salisbury NC🔥🔥🔥

[@ericdunlap494]

Lots of talent avail on D from NC. Pearce is from Charlotte. Walker Salisbury. Another from W-S.

[@michaelgreene8438]

Over james Pearce jr? No way.

[@TheFanRookie]

Pierce is projected as a mid to late 1st, so if the Panthers trade back he could be a great pick.

[@Stiq_912]

ABSOLUTELY! What are saying? James Pearce is good but he’s limited in the run. Walker lined up all over the field and was a dawg. He played inside and out. I’m a UGA fan; I watched every game. He’s like that and he has a motor. Mykell, I’m good on (pass at 8) but Walker is a different story.

[@Westcoast-Carolina]

Pearce is good, but Walker is a beast. He plays with attitude which is something we need and he has great pursuit when going after a runner. Him and Wallace could be a great combo.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Walker can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 look as a LB. We have to get guys that can survive Evero.

[@llcooloyd2550]

Walker is a Dog!! Definitely at 8

[@michaelgreene8438]

James pearce or mason graham 1st, xavier watts 2nd, jayden higgins 3rd

[@timothycarver9972]

Mason Graham ain’t falling

[@marcusfoster2270]

Vernon Butler was not 8. He was 31. Jaycee Horn was 8.

[@itscourtesymusic]

You beat me to it. I was just about to say the same thing 😂

[@jamelhall6201]

Funny how they didn’t call Bryce a backup QB around somebody that actually knows ball. 🤔

[@TheFanRookie]

I wouldn’t hate Jalon Walker at No. 8!

[@dustinbarlow1623]

I think he or WIll Johnson would be great additions. Anyone who can play multiple fronts and survive Everos scheme is the pick. Evero wont be here long, I wonder what vegas odds are that he is fired by week five?

[@Briangnc96]

Trade back in Rd 1 and get Starks or Emmanwari then trade up from 54 as a lot of talent is gonna disappear in the 30s-40s. Wouldn't Golden look good in a Panthers jersey?

[@donaldcole1803]

I expect Carter to go top 5, Graham to be gone before 8. Walker would be great as an Edge/LB or Mikel Williams as Edge/DE. 2nd rd could be Jack Sawyer at Edge/DE, Kevin Winston at S, or Jihaad Campbell at LB. It would be great to get another 2nd rd pick. 3rd rd could be Trey Ames at CB or TJ Sanders at DT. 4th could be Alfred Collin’s at DT or Jake Slaughter at Center. WR can wait. All those saying BYoung needed time need to give XL and Coker time also.

[@alexcarter6446]

I would prefer Abdul Carter if we can't get Mason Graham. If not either of them, we can always get Walker, James Pearce, Jack Sawyer, Will Johnson, etc. If we somehow get Travis Hunter, that would be CRAZY. All I know is that as far as defensive players, we can't lose!! 🙌 I hope that Dan Morgan isn't foolish enough to get a WR on the 8th pick like some mock drafts have predicted recently. We're good in that category compared to that NAUSEATING defense.

[@Hold_on_now_playa]

Will Johnson or the trenches…either way it has to be defense. This whole summer needs to be dedicated to defense FA and Draft.

[@willfredtk]

If it's jalon walker trade down

[@matthewthreatt7443]

Facts

[@jackhicks8935]

With Carter gone, ideally it’s Mason Graham. Then get an edge like Princely Umanmielen who could fall to us after.

[@Getchy-a-done]

We need coverage sacks this year work on the back field backers and safeties

[@brooklyn_boy3323]

He will be the new luvu

[@geraldneal1441]

they are not going to take a hybrid tweener at #8. He is not Abdul Carter or Parsons. He is not that effective on the edge when they moved him around. You take this guy, and I like the player (used to teach at his high school) but he does not help us at one of our top 3 need areas (pure edge, DL, WR). Drafting him is like taking Chinn--not sure how to use him.

[@stevenbaker8706]

Can we push for this guy to cover the panthers exclusively for ESPN. I’d be willing to fire the current person filling that seat

[@Maurice3774]

Veron butler had a long career tho

[@Eternal252]

Im taking Garrett Wilson over Tee Higgins

[@Julian-ep1rg]

This comment is underrated! Id rather give a pick away over money!

[@connorcornelison719]

In a perfect world, this most likely wouldn't happen, but you trade down in the draft, maybe get an extra 2nd rounder and a later 1st rounder, and you trade both of those picks for Garrett Wilson. Maybe throw in a late 4th or an early 5th as well.

[@johnjohn0]

You hope to sign Tee Higgins and draft Tet McMillan. If Coker/Legette have any value, trade them. Get a slot receiver late in the draft or in undrafted free agency.

[@michaelgraham2540]

Yo I went to southwest

[@denial6854]

If Will Johnson falls to 8 we could literally have Goku and Vegeta with him and Jaycee together they are Gogeta cmon now

[@stephenveatch6494]

We got Luke at the 9th pick.

[@jordanhunt9544]

Vernon Butler was not 8 😂 and Brown was 7

[@chucklee2507]

Give me Kenneth Grant or Walter Nolen

[@tuckergriffin3837]

Vernon Butler was selected 30th lol

[@MikeSamy83]

I hate this pick, according to PFF this is a massive reach. Let’s just hope Danny knows better. I rather draft Will Campbell or trade down and draft Mike Green

[@MrMegaGamerMan]

They shouldn't go defense if they aren't sold on Evero

[@brooklyn_boy3323]

Defense is the biggest need it's not way they don't make that a focal point. I see where u coming from but if they end up letting him go; bring in a coach that will get that defense right meaning great coaching,and play calling

[@NickAlexander-c4c]

Hornet nation stang up

[@RayshaunHayes]

Vernon butler was drafted at pick 32 wtf is this guy talk bout 8

[@ironsun27]

Red Raiders !!!

[@richardwalker3895]

Matthew Golden !!!!! Trade up to grab him

[@johnjohn0]

If Tetairoa McMillan is available, you get him. However, I've seen mocks that have Tet going earlier to NE or LV. Getting Bryce a # of weapons should be top priority. I don't care that the defense stinks. CAR should have still won 7 games with that pathetic defense. Get Bryce some weapons. Do not let the narrative next season be about the QB not thriving. It's better that the narrative revolves around a terrible defense than around a QB not playing up to expectations.

[@Venothor90]

You can’t count on a high volume offense every game. This team needs a middle of the pack defense to remain competitive. What’s the point of scoring 25+ points a game if the defense is letting up 30+.

[@johnjohn0]

@Venothor90 I...don't...care...about...winning...a...lot...of...games. If I'm an OFFENSIVE HC and the GM who was on staff when Bryce was drafted, I'm making sure our offense is as good as it can be in yr 3 for Bryce. Bryce not playing well would not be the narrative for next season if I'm them. I rather it be about the sorry defense than an underperforming QB. Zac Taylor isn't getting fired. Cincy's offense is elite. They're going to address the defense this off-season.

[@Venothor90]

@ you might not care, but I know who does. The man signing all the pay checks and the majority of fans who pay to go to every game. Offense can be looked at being fixed with FA after freeing up cap space with extending Horn, Icky and figuring out Moton. It would be better to fix with a proven commodity rather than a rookie and hoping. It’s better to build the defense with youth to establish for the future.

[@johnjohn0]

@Venothor90 Tepper cares about making Bryce look good. That's his priority. He wants to win the trade. Again, CAR won 5 games with a horrible defense and a pedestrian offense. They should have won 7 games. If you can win 5 games with this roster, then you definitely should be able to win 7-9 games w/ a high-powered offense. Yes, they may address the WR1 during FA or trade. But if they don't, Tet will be they're pick if he's available. He'll likely be off the board by then, however.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

@@Venothor90 IF our Defense was even 15th we make the playoffs. How we go about addressing the defense is everything. It needs to be players who can survive a roster past Evero. Evero isnt going to be here very long. I think hes canned by week 5.

[@andrewpark9279]

STOP trying to force SC and NC players onto our team lol. That doesn't mean **** when it's time to get paid. We need a NT since Eviro is hellbent on 3-4. Take Pierce at 8 and take Deone Walker or Alfred Collins in the 2nd.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

WE absolutely should not draft anyone on defense who cant survive past Evero being canned. Im sorry Evero isnt making it past week 5. Will Johnson or Carter have to be the pick. It has to be a guy who can play in a 3-4 or 4-3. No NG or DT will safe Evero, especially when he calls weakside blitzes on strong side runs.

[@Eternal252]

Well if it’s a plethora of interior lineman and edge and limited corner I’m going #WILLJOHNSON move Mike Jackson to slot

[@Hold_on_now_playa]

My god if Will Johnson falls to us…😳

[@waltercrouch17]

Cornerback Will Johnson

[@karlvann5840]

Trade back.. we have a really bad depth issue

[@ericdunlap494]

SQUIRREL!! 2nd round and you start jabbering about a WR. Quit taking your eye of the target. Defense is the target. Stay on task!Historically bad isn't fixed with one pick. It may not get fixed with 3 or 4 picks and here you go chasing a damn WR first. Video off.

[@aboutcare6995]

James Pierce Jr. is miles better than Jalon Walker. I dont want a linebacker similar to one that didn't want to play here because the scheme.

[@TheFanRookie]

But that scheme might not be here in a year or two, and having someone with positional versatility will help when a new scheme arrives. Pierce is projecting as a mid to late 1st, so if the Panthers trade down I’m cool with taking Pierce. And just because Luvu didn’t like the scheme doesn’t mean Walker will feel the same way.

[@aboutcare6995]

@TheFanRookie I dont want to use the 8th overall pick on someone who won't be used properly in 1-2 years. Pierce Jr. Is the 9th best player in the class and Walker is 62nd (PFF). We need a dedicated pass rusher which in my opinion is more valuable than a LB.

[@walkdowngang_]

@@aboutcare6995so with that logic you would like parson either ?

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Pierce is a pass rush specialist who would not survive a roster past Evero if we made a Scheme change. Dude is way too undersized to play with his hand down, same reason I dont want Abdul Carter. We need dudes who can play in anybodys scheme. Thats Carter or Will Johnson.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

@@TheFanRookie Exactly!

[@kevinhurley6233]

This wr group isn’t “great” don’t even try that bs

[@scottworley1479]

I dont understand why the panthers traded Brian Burns. Exactly what we need. Makes no sense the moves theyve made. Now we have to waste a pick to replace him.