The draft is almost here, what are we hoping for in the first round?
We’ve been backwards and forwards over mock drafts and mock fantasies talking about what the Carolina Panthers should do, might do, and most probably cannot do. Here’s one last stab from the staff here at Cat Scratch Reader on what we want Dan Morgan to do tonight.
This is trying to speak desire into reality. There is every chance that there is no viable option to trade back or that Jalon Walker and Mason Graham will be selected before the Panthers’ eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This isn’t about realism so much as it is about what we’re left hoping for after an exhausting off season of prognostication and rosterbation.
Here’s who we want:
Walker Clement: I’m swinging for the fences and calling for Kelvin Banks, Jr (assuming Will Campbell goes 4th overall to the New England Patriots). They can’t fix the defense in one offseason, but they can get ahead of a need on the offensive line and keep Bryce Young protected as he grows into a franchise quarterback.
Jonathan Delong: I want Walker. Best case, he develops into a dominant full time pass rusher that the Panthers need. Even if that doesn’t work out, he seems like a sure bet to be a Frankie Luvu type player that would thrive in this defense.
Brian Beversluis: I’d like to draft Graham. I think if the goal was to do what they did last year with the offensive line then Graham makes their defensive line a unit to be feared this year.
Daniel Belton: I want Graham to add to the defensive line depth and disruption
Eric Buchanan: Walker excites me the most. It’s a risk, but his pass rushing upside is sky high and he brings an intensity that’s been missing on defense.
Andrew Sweat: Our resident president of Trade Down Island wasn’t able to respond in time for this post to go up, so please enjoy a selection of his full throated arguments for the Panthers to trade back in this year’s draft to acquire as much Day 2 draft capital as possible: