The Carolina Panthers have a collection of rookies on defense who could all earn significant playing time on a shallow roster. The Panthers are widely known for having one of the worst defenses in NFL history in 2024. A few free agency signings and the return of a healthy Derrick Brown are unlikely to turn the Panthers into an over night success story. That leaves the door wide open for any of Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen, Lathan Ransom, and Cam Jackson to make a big, early impact.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, most Panthers fans think that the Panthers second pick in the 2025 NFL draft will have the biggest impact on the team this season. The vast majority of y’all think it will be between Scourton and Umanmielen, the team’s second and third round picks respectively.
It may seem basic that the Panthers invested most in their position of greatest need, edge rusher, but basic answers are often how you address obvious problems. The front seven of the Panthers defense was in need of major overhaul this offseason and, after addressing the interior of their defensive line in free agency, the edge was due for the most focus.
This isn’t a problem of tunnel vision or erring towards need over the more popular concept of Best Player Available. The Panthers worked their board to end the draft with the players they could both afford to draft and best improve their team with.
After years of half measures and inconsistencies, it’s been nice to see Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis work the offseason in such a way as to enter the 2025 season with fewer glaring holes on their roster than they started out with. It’s baby steps, yes, but that’s how we all started walking.