The NFL Draft presents the Carolina Panthers with the perfect chance to surround their young quarterback with even more talent.
Despite finishing out the season strong in a 44-point victory versus the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers offense has a few roster issues that need to be resolved in order to take the next step in 2025.
The NFL Combine is just days away and that means the Panthers coalition will arrive in Indianapolis with the rest of the NFL’s top evaluators to watch this years crop of draft eligible prospects show off their skills. The Panthers, armed with a strong amount of draft capital, likely will reserve a few of those picks for the offensive side of the ball to fill some voids remaining after year one of the Dan Morgan and Dave Canales era.
Let’s take a look at what some of those remain issues are, and which prospects might be available during each day of the draft to remedy them.
Issue #1: Lack of yards after the catch
The Panthers finished 32nd in the NFL in yards after catch. It’s hard to thrive that way as an offense as it makes much harder than it should be to generate explosive plays. Offense becomes easier if you can get a screen, slant or drag to an playmaker and let them go to work every once in a while.
Day One: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Built like a running back at 5’11 and 210lbs, Burden is the top YAC threat in this draft class without question. In 2024, he showed off tremendous physicality and contact balance to led the receivers with 30 missed tackles forced – a mark that led the FBS. Burden frequently draws draft comparisons to Deebo Samuel and former Panthers turned Chicago Bears receiver D.J. Moore.
Day Two: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Similar to Burden, Royals checks in at 5’11 and 210lbs and has explosive play potential every time he touches the football. Over the last two seasons, Royals had 10 catches of 50-plus yards, the most in the FBS. He’ll be available on Day 2 because his game will need to develop a lot more nuance to be a full-time player in the NFL, but his early contributions as a YAC threat could serve the Panthers well.
Day Three: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Williams reported measurables are 6’0 and 185lbs, so on paper he is smaller than the previous two players. However, Williams does not lack for skills with the ball in his hands. In 2024, William’s 8.4 YAC per reception was 15th in the FBS while his 21 missed tackles forced ranked 18th.
Issue #2: Someone to play center
Currently, the Panthers do not have a player listed at center on the roster. A prudent course of action would be to sign one in free agency and draft another to develop behind them.
Day One: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
The 6’5, 316lb lineman actually played left tackle for most of his college career, but during the Senior Bowl he showed well across all five positions on the offensive line. He’s projected to move into the interior of the line in the NFL, and considering the dearth of talent at the center position compared to last year, Zabel’s the hottest name at the position.
Day Two: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
Wilson is 6’3 and 310lbs and is renowned for his athleticism at the Georgia program. Kirby Smart was quoted as saying he “runs faster than a lot of our defensive backs, believe it or not”. Wilson was only a one year starter, but performed well and would be worthy of a pick in the 3rd round of the draft.
Day Three: Jake Majors, C, Texas
Majors is listed at 6’3, 315lbs and was a serviceable lineman for the Longhorns last year. He did not particularly standout in any measurable fashion, but according to PFF he graded out with a 85.4 pass blocking grade and a 68.2 run blocking grade.
Issue #3: X receiver
While the Panthers do have an intriguing mix of young and old talent at wide receiver, none of them seem to fit well as the outside ‘X’ receiver. Xavier Legette may develop into the role, but if the Panthers don’t want to (or can’t) find a star wide receiver via trade or free agency, they can look at the draft to fill that need.
Day One: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan’s 6’5, 210 lbs frame is one of the most impressive in this class at receiver. A projected top-5 pick, the receiver is one of the most productive players in college football. A standout at the catch point, he also displays great yards after catch and the fluidity to get open at all the levels of the field. McMillan’s playstyle reminds many evaluators of Drake London and Tee Higgins.
Day Two: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
At 6’3, 217lbs Higgins is also a smooth athlete with desired size for an outside receiver in the NFL. He will not ‘wow’ you with his speed, but he posses enough of all the traits that succeed in the NFL. Higgins had an elite receiving grade in his final year of college, putting up nearly 1,200 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns.
Day Three: Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville
Brooks has a different profile than the previous two listed players, but still has great size coming in at 6’3, 195lbs. Brooks has much better speed than McMillan and Higgins, but is outclassed when it comes to physicality. Brooks played with Panthers quarterback Bryce Young at Alabama in 2022 and 2023 – the former of which they combined for 39 catches for 674 yards and 8 touchdowns.