As the 2025 NFL Draft inches closer, let’s dive deeper into each position group to see where the talent and depth are.
Now that the NFL season is over, the Carolina Panthers are locked into the number eight overall pick of the first round. They also have the Los Angeles Rams’ second round pick (pick 57), their own third (74) and fourth (110), the Dallas Cowboys’ fourth (113), the New York Giants’ fifth (141), their own fifth (147), the Baltimore Ravens’ fifth (164), and the Arizona Cardinals’ seventh (229). The exact number of some of these picks is subject to change based on playoffs results, and the Panthers could (and probably will) make trades involving these picks and/or obtaining others. Because the Panthers have picks in almost every round of the Draft, let’s take a deep dive into each of the position groups making up this year’s crop of players. Obviously some of these players could be listed at different positions depending on who you ask, so I tried to include realistic options for each position. For example, some edge defenders might be listed as defensive linemen on some sites. Today, we’ll look at the wide receivers.
High End Talent
The first round of the NFL Draft will likely feature two names at the tight end position: Penn State Nittany Lion Tyler Warren and Michigan Wolverine Colston Loveland. Warren is basically a better version of Taysom Hill. Hill is probably better as a thrower of the football, but Warren does everything else better. He is truly a jack of all trades, master of most. Loveland is more specialized. His position is tight end, but his receiving production and lack of top tier blocking skills make him feel like more of a big bodied receiver than inline tight end. That said, just his receiving prowess alone makes him a legitimate first round selection.
Depth
Day Two of the draft could see several tight ends get their names called as well. A popular choice in mock drafts near the top of the second round is Harold Fannin Jr from Bowling Green. Fannin is another player similar to Loveland who is not thought of as a traditional in-line tight end but a dynamic receiving threat. Miami Hurricane Elijah Arroyo is another receiving threat who specializes attacking the seams. His blocking is a bit better than some other tight ends on this list, and he is very good at selling a block before leaking out on a delayed route. LSU Tiger Mason Taylor, son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, is another tight end with the size and athleticism to be a receiving threat. Where Arroyo and Fannin are better separators, Taylor is more of a crafty route runner who thrives against zone defense.
Sleepers
Day Three is typically for the tight ends who have one skill but struggle in other areas. While tight ends taken in the first three rounds aren’t world beaters as blockers, these tight ends really struggle with blocking. Players like Oronde Gadsden II of the Syracuse Orange and Brant Kuithe of the Utah Utes fit into this profile. The other end of the spectrum is a player like Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans. Evans is more of that TE2 blocking specialist that can sometimes produce in the passing game but can’t really be relied on to carry the passing game.