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 top tier talent at wide receiver is a little more thin in this Draft compared to years past. Only one receiver is guaranteed to be a first round pick (Tetairoa McMillan of the Arizona Wildcats. Luther Burden III (Missouri Tigers) and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State Buckeyes) are often mocked in the first round as well, with a few others potentially sneaking in. McMillan is a true WR1 prospect with the size, athleticism, hands, and production teams look for in a college receiver. Burden is dynamite with the ball in his hands, but saw a drop-off in production last season. Egbuka has elite straight line speed, but is inconsistent in his route running crispness.
Depth
The top of the Day 2 prospects in this draft are mainly Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden (Texas Longhorns), Tre Harris (Ole Miss Rebels), and Elic Ayomanor (Stanford Cardinal). Any of those four could sneak into Day 1 of the Draft, but they are most often mocked in the second or third rounds. Bond has explosive playmaking speed, Golden has deep threat written all over his game, Harris is a potential X receiver, and Ayomanor is a high floor high ceiling player. If you are looking for more of a technician style slot type receiver, you may prefer someone like Xavier Restrepo (Miami Hurricanes) or Tez Johnson (Oregon Ducks).
Sleepers
Our Day 3 prospects have a range of skills to choose from. Kyren Lacey (LSU Tigers) and Roc Taylor (Memphis Tigers) are both quality route runners who thrive with intermediate routes. Dont’e Thornton Jr (Tennessee Volunteers) and Sam Brown (Miami Hurricanes) both have explosive elements to their games that could really appeal to some offensive coordinators. A more physical run after catch presence could be a player like Antwane Wells Jr (Ole Miss Rebels). Any one of those players should be given a shot at the next level just based on their strengths, and they could become more if they continue to refine their games at the next level.