Trades, edge defenders, and a surprising amount of good feelings
The Carolina Panthers entered Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft with two gaping, obvious holes on defense. They needed safeties and they needed edge defenders. Now they are entering Day 3 with only one of those needs. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M, and Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss, were two of the top rated edge defenders left after the first round. Both had received first round buzz at various points in the year round draft process, but ultimately fell short due to lackluster seasons and a deep class at their position. That said, smart trades and smart drafting got the Panthers two players who have a decent chance of becoming solid starters by the end of their rookie contracts. That’s excellent value on Day 2 of the draft.
To acquire these talents, the Panthers traded up in the second round, back in the third, and then back up in third without losing any appreciable value against any of the draft charts. When asked to grade both trades, fans were overwhelmingly positive:
As for the players themselves, several of our commenters had one or the other of these guys in the mock drafts frequently in the run up to the real event. Frequently, Umanmielen was taken before 77, which helped to generate good will around his selection in the third round.
Overall, fans seem excited about the influx of talent on the Panthers’ defense. A league worst unit isn’t going to become a strength overnight, but nobody felt comfortable after the first round ended and the Panthers had done nothing to resolve their talent deficiencies at edge. We’re all breathing easier entering the home stretch of the draft knowing that the team has made big strides in addressing a huge need on each side of the ball.
Now that you’ve slept on the picks, sound off in the comments below if your opinion has changed or if you just want to get started on Day 3. Our open thread for Day 3 will go live an hour before the draft.