Panthers Open To Trading Back From No. 8
APRIL 15: When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Morgan confirmed he is open to receiving offers for the No. 8 pick (video link via ESPN’s David Newton). To no surprise, he added Carolina is not locked into adding a defensive player in the first round (h/t Newton), although that side of the ball is expected to receive plenty of attention. As the countdown to the draft continues, it will be interesting to see if a strong market for the Panthers’ top choice emerges.
APRIL 14: With multiple holes on the roster and the organization still in the midst of a rebuild, the Panthers will clearly be operating with a ‘best-player-available’ approach at No. 8 in the draft. However, depending on how things proceed with the top-seven picks, the front office could look to make a move.
According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the Panthers “are open to the idea” of moving back from No. 8 “depending on what happens in front of them.” In fact, some recent developments from the Panthers’ own division may only help general manager Dan Morgan‘s chances of pulling off a trade.
As Person writes, with Derek Carr potentially out for the 2025 campaign, the Saints may feel added pressure to land a top quarterback prospect in the draft. As one of the only QB-needy teams in the top-10, the Saints would seem to be in prime position to select, say, Shedeur Sanders with the No. 9 pick.
Since the Panthers are armed with the No. 8 pick, they could be an enticing trade partner for Sanders suitors who aren’t armed with such a high selection. The Saints’ need for a QB could further benefit the Panthers. As Person notes, a “quarterback-inspired team” (like New Orleans) that leapfrogs Carolina’s eighth-overall selection would just result in a better non-QB-prospect falling into the Panthers’ lap.
Of course, this isn’t an uncommon sentiment in this year’s draft. QB Cam Ward is expected to go first-overall, while Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter represent the draft’s only true blue-chip prospects. There’s a belief that there isn’t a huge difference between the next tier of players, with Buccaneers GM Jason Licht even admitting recently that the draft “is pretty leveled-out at a certain point” (per Person).
In other words, if a team is truly enamored with Sanders, they’d likely be negotiating for picks No. 4 through No. 7 before they place a call with Morgan and the Panthers for the No. 8 pick. Still, the Saints’ sudden QB issues could vicariously help their rival’s options heading into the draft.
Panthers To Focus On Defense In Draft
We are only five years removed from the 2020 NFL Draft, when then-head coach Matt Rhule and the Panthers went defense with all seven of their draft picks. New head coach Dave Canales seems more willing to let general manager Dan Morgan run the show, but the 2025 NFL Draft may look go similarly. With nine picks, it’s unreasonable to expect all defensive selections, but per ESPN’s David Newton, Carolina has needs all over the defense that could be addressed in two weeks. 
While his play has been up-and-down over his first two years, Bryce Young seemingly did enough down the stretch in 2024 to secure another year as the starting quarterback. At running back, the Panthers have two backs who delivered 1,000-yard rushing seasons last year in Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, and Dowdle provides a bit more receiving potential.
They fully return their offensive line from last year in (from left to right) tackle Ikem Ekwonu, guard Damien Lewis, center Austin Corbett, guard Robert Hunt, and tackle Taylor Moton. They even displayed impressive depth with Cade Mays stepping in at center admirably last season when Corbett went down with injury. Other strong depth pieces on the line include Yosh Nijman, Chandler Zavala, and Brady Christensen, but aside from Corbett, the Panthers only saw seven missed starts along the offensive line in 2024, and Hunt even earned a Pro Bowl bid.
The holes on offense come at wide receiver and tight end. Despite being 34 years old, Adam Thielen hardly showed his age in his starts last season. Unfortunately, injury held him out of seven straight games in the middle of the year. After Diontae Johnson departed on bad terms, Carolina was left to depend on first-round rookie Xavier Legette and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker to lead the receiving corps. At tight end, Tommy Tremble has never really impressed in his receiving or blocking responsibilities since getting drafted in the third round in 2021, but fourth-round rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders struggled to really take the job from Tremble last year, only producing more because Tremble missed five games.
On defense, the Panthers don’t necessarily have holes, but each position either lacks top-end talent or depth. The position in best standing right now is the interior line, where Derrick Brown is set to return as one of the league’s best defensive tackles. He’s been reinforced by two newcomers in Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton who graded out respectably (47th and 49th, respectively, out of 118 players graded by Pro Football Focus) last year with the Rams and Chiefs. While they didn’t grade out very well, A’Shawn Robinson, Shy Tuttle, and LaBryan Ray all add depth to the line.
Cornerback is probably the team’s second-best position right now. Michael Jackson has proven to be a reliable, if unexciting, starter over the past two years, while Jaycee Horn earned a Pro Bowl berth in his first healthy season, though he did miss 29 games in his first three years. Chau Smith-Wade established himself as a serviceable nickelback as a rookie, but besides those three, the Panthers only have unproven corners in Akayleb Evans and Shemar Bartholomew on the roster. Quality depth is desperately needed.
At safety, Carolina sees new starters with Tre’von Moehrig and Nick Scott potentially stepping in in place of Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller. On paper, these are improvements, and second-year safety Demani Richardson returns after getting some starting experience last year. Once again, though, there is zero depth behind those three, and bodies could be added in the later rounds of the draft for both secondary positions.
Both linebacker positions have plenty of depth but lack top-end talent. Shaq Thompson is still a free agent, so Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace are the top returners at a position that also added Christian Rozeboom in free agency. There’s plenty of depth pieces behind them, as well. Unfortunately, according to PFF, none of those starters graded better than 67th out of 84 players at the position last year. Jewell (67) and Wallace (69) faired only slightly better than newcomer Rozeboom (72). 
At outside linebacker, Jadeveon Clowney is the obvious star of the show, but his resurgent excellence in Baltimore in 2023 didn’t quite continue with the Panthers last year, though he was still the team’s best defender when on the field, slightly edging out Jackson in the secondary. Behind him, D.J. Wonnum, DJ Johnson, and newcomer Patrick Jones follow in the off-ball linebackers’ footsteps, with no one grading better than 94th of 119 players at the position last year, per PFF. Jones last year with the Vikings saw him grade out at 94th, while Wonnum (95) and Johnson (98) weren’t far behind.
The most pressing need for Carolina is probably to add a strong pass rusher across from Clowney. The team may also value a strong addition at inside linebacker or safety. Tight end and wide receiver would likely follow in the order of needs. With the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, the Panthers are in a unique position. They have to keep in mind, though, that their early-second-round pick belongs to the Bears as a result of the D.J. Moore trade from 2023, but they do own the Rams’ second-rounder this year after Los Angeles traded up in the second round last year to select Braden Fiske.
In a perfect world, the Panthers somehow see Georgia’s Jalon Walker fall to them at the eighth spot. The Patriots have been linked to Walker at times, but No. 4 overall may be too high to consider the versatile defender, and New England, like that three teams with picks between it and Carolina, has potentially more pressing needs on offense, so it’s not out of the question that Walker will be available. Walker barely favored an off-ball linebacker role to an edge rusher role about 60:40 in Athens last year. This unique ability to contribute at both spots is reminiscent of Micah Parsons and would give the Panthers an opportunity to play around and figure out where exactly Walker could contribute most to the defense. 
If Walker is unavailable, they could try for Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, Marshall’s Mike Green, or Walker’s teammate Mykel Williams, but each seems like a bit of a reach at No. 8 overall. Any other linebackers, like Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell or UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, are fringe first-rounders, and Carolina may be wiser to trade up for them in the second or hope they fall to No. 57 overall. They could also stand pat and select a number of Day 2 receiving options (Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, Utah State’s Jalen Royals, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris, TCU’s Jack Bech, Texas’ Isaiah Bond, Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor) in the second or third round.
An interesting scenario could see the Panthers make a move for one of the draft’s two top tight ends: Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland at No. 8 overall. This would be a bit of a shock with so many bigger needs to focus on, but either player paired with Sanders would provide an immediate upgrade over a twosome of Sanders and Tremble. More likely, though, the Panthers stick to defense and choose from one of many impressive tight end options on Day 2 or 3 like LSU’s Mason Taylor, Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, or Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin.
The team could also try to trade down later into the first round if their favorite options aren’t on the table, but they would be one of several teams trying to do so. Without any elite options to trade up for, though, there are few teams interested in trading up into this range of the draft.
Bengals, Cowboys, Panthers Meet With RB TreVeyon Henderson; Latest On Ohio State RBs
TreVeyon Henderson took the unusual step of returning to school for a fourth season as a high-profile running back. The decision put more mileage on the four-year Ohio State cog’s odometer, but the arrival of Quinshon Judkins lightened the workload. Both players are now part of a deep RB class, with each candidates to potentially become first-round picks.
A four-year Buckeyes contributor, Henderson offers an all-around skillset that has naturally attracted considerable interest during the pre-draft process. Three potential suitors have emerged. The Bengals, Cowboys and Panthers met with Henderson, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board ranks Henderson 34th and Judkins 38th, and Schultz adds Henderson has gone through with Zoom meetings with teams beyond the above-referenced trio. Although Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton are regarded as the top two backs in this year’s class, the Buckeye pair may not last long into Round 2 — if the 1,000-1,000 duo makes it there at all.
While Judkins transferred from Ole Miss in 2024, Henderson arrived in Columbus as a five-star recruit in 2021. Injuries slowed the highly touted back in 2022 and ’23, calling into question a decision to stay in school rather than risk another setback before rookie-contract money emerged. But NIL has changed the college landscape, offering chances for players to cash in while still in college. Henderson capitalized and stayed healthy in 2024, boosting his stock during Ohio State’s national championship-winning season.
Although Judkins led the team in rushing, Henderson (1,016 yards), averaged a career-best 7.1 on 144 carries. (Henderson averaged 6.8 per tote on 183 carries in 2021.) That 183-handoff season was Henderson’s highwater mark, adding to the pre-draft appeal. Henderson also has displayed more as a receiver compared to his one-year teammate, an element that has created a three-down profile and increases the prospect it might take a Day 1 pick to add him.
The Cowboys may not be the team to use a first-round pick on a running back, and while the team met with Jeanty and Hampton, ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid indicates Dallas has also expressed interest in adding one of the Buckeye backs in Round 2. The Cowboys hold the Nos. 12 and 44 picks to open their draft.
Cincinnati also scheduled a Judkins visit. The team did not see its Zack Moss agreement lead to reliable production, and while the former Bills and Colts contributor is still under contract, Chase Brown emerged as a better option. Questions about Brown’s three-down ability have come, and the Bengals’ meetings with the 2024 Ohio State duo may well confirm internal uncertainty there.
Carolina made the first RB pick in last year’s draft, one that did not feature a backfield crop on the level of the 2025 cadre. The Panthers would seemingly be on the lookout for a Chuba Hubbard complement, having extended the former Matt Rhule fourth-round pick before seeing 2024 second-rounder Jonathon Brooks suffer a second ACL tear. Brooks’ return window may not open until late in the 2025 season, and with two ACL tears in two years, his NFL trajectory has been altered.
The Commanders have come up as another team that could be interested, as Reid suggests RB could be an early area the team addresses. Brian Robinson is entering a contract year, and Austin Ekeler has battled injuries over the past two seasons. The pass-catching back will turn 30 in May. The Broncos are planning to draft a back, and it would not surprise if the team — one that may be lacking a starter-level option — dives in early.
49ers To Host Mykel Williams, Walter Nolen
The 49ers own the No. 11 pick in April’s draft, and they are set to host a pair of defenders who could be selected in that range. Edge rusher Mykel Williams and defensive tackle Walter Nolen will visit the team, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. 
Williams spent each of his three years at Georgia, earning second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and ’24. The former five-star recruit faced high expectations during his time with the Bulldogs, but his production did not meet them. Williams totaled only 14.5 sacks in his career, with an ankle injury hindering his play this past campaign. In spite of that, his size, length and athleticism has him squarely on the first-round radar.
The 6-5, 260-pounder has already lined up visits with the Saints and Cardinals during the pre-draft process. Williams is also among the players who have been closely linked to the Panthers, who will pick eighth overall. Depending on how the board shakes out – especially with respect to the other top edge rushers in the class – the 49ers may not have the option of selecting him.
Nolan was one of several prospects who took part in “Dallas Day,” showcasing some of the top players from the area in April’s draft. He too has a number of pre-draft visits on the books. The No. 1 player in his recruiting class, Nolan spent his first two seasons at Texas A&M. He managed five sacks over that span, but it was a transfer to Ole Miss which led to a notable breakout campaign.
Racking up 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss, the junior earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors during his lone Rebels season. Nolan was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the country’s top offensive or defensive lineman. The 6-4, 296-pounder’s potential is certainly high as he prepares to transition to the pro game, but opinions vary to large extent as it pertains to his draft stock.
Aside from Nick Bosa, the 49ers have undergone plenty of changes along the defensive front in recent years. The releases of Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd from earlier this spring have led to a starting vacancy on the interior and also along the edge. Either Williams or Nolan could therefore step into a notable role as a rookie, and it will be interesting to see if one or both are on the board when San Francisco’s first selection is made.
Panthers Sign Former College Basketball Player Colin Granger
The Panthers are turning to the hardwood for some help at tight end. The team announced today that they’ve signed former Division I college basketball player Colin Granger as a TE.
Granger spent five seasons playing basketball at Ohio, Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina, where he totaled 414 points and 322 rebounds. As ESPN’s David Newton notes, Granger was eligible to sign with any team since he’s five years removed from high school.
Granger hasn’t played football since the eighth grade, but he has the size to compete at the tight end spot. The rookie is listed at 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, and he’s instantly the tallest player on the Panthers roster. Considering his size, it shouldn’t be a surprise that plenty of teams considered adding Granger as a prospect.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportkeeda.com, there was “legitimate interest in his talents,” and six teams attended Granger’s Pro Day last Friday. In addition to the Panthers (who actually hosted Granger on an official-3o visit), the attendees included the Falcons, Texans, Eagles, Seahawks, and Vikings, per Pauline.
Ultimately, the Panthers’ efforts worked out, and Granger will now join a growing list of former basketball players who are hoping to follow the successful paths laid out by Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Jimmy Graham. As Newton points out, Panthers head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan had success with a previous project when George Fant made the Seahawks as a tackle/tight end. According to Newton, Fant has worked with Granger and informed the Panthers leadership of his ability.
The Panthers have plenty of depth at tight end, but the team will presumably consider all of their options as they look to squeeze any production out of the position. The team’s current grouping includes the likes of Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews, James Mitchell, and Dominique Dafney.
2025 NFL Draft Visits: Schwesinger, Cowboys, Nolen, Ezeiruaku, Burden, Turner, Bond, Steelers, Emmanwori
This isn’t exactly a visit in the sense of top-30 visits, like most of the rest of bullets that follow this will be, but UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger held a private pro day earlier this week in Los Angeles and had 30 teams in attendance, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While, obviously, not a comprehensive list, Schefter specifically mentions the Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Chargers, and Broncos, and notes that the linebackers coaches from Dallas, New York, and New Orleans all met privately with Schwesinger.
Schwesinger is not currently the top-ranked linebacker prospect in most analysts’ eyes, but he often slides in as the second-best off-ball linebacker in the class behind Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell — third if you count Georgia defender Jalon Walker, who has the ability to play every linebacker spot at the next level. Some thought Schwesinger may sneak into the back end of the first round at the end of the month, but more likely is that he hears his name on Day 2. Per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, it would be surprising to see him fall past the first half of the second round.
Here are some more prospect-NFL team connections we’ve seen recent reports on:
- The Cowboys have certainly been very busy in the runup to the 2025 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team held their invite-only “Dallas Day,” hosting draft prospects without the visits counting towards their top-30 visits. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton met with the team at “Dallas Day.” The well-balanced rusher continues to skyrocket up draft boards, is likely to join Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and has several other visits lined up.
- Jeanty was also in attendance on Friday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. We had relayed that Jeanty would be taking a top-30 visit with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear whether this is what was meant in that original report. Also in attendance for “Dallas Day” were Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, TCU wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Texas quarterback and offensive lineman Quinn Ewers and Cameron Williams, and Miami tight end and running back Elijah Arroyo and Damien Martinez.
- Also in attendance at “Dallas Day” was Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Nolen will follow up his Dallas visit with a visit with the Panthers on Monday and a visit with the Bengals some other time this week.
- Joining Nolen in Carolina on Monday will be Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, per Joe Person of The Athletic. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been a hot topic with multiple scouts of late, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He’s currently viewed as an early-Day 2 prospect, and his stock continues to rise.
- Speaking of another “Dallas Day” athlete, Wilson of KPRC 2 provided an updated list of teams that Turner, from Texas A&M, is set to visit with. We already noted his recent visit in New Orleans, but Wilson tells us that Turner has also visited the Texans and plans to visit the Ravens, Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Colts, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
- According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden for a top-30 visit last week. The talented wideout fell off in 2024 after an incredible sophomore campaign with the Tigers, but his high ceiling makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Denver would love to bring in another talented weapon for young quarterback Bo Nix.
- We already reported recent visits for Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond in Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Los Angeles, but we now have a couple sources adding some new locations for the Longhorn. Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Bond had dinner with the Bills before a private workout Friday and a top-30 visit as well as visits with the Browns and Packers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Bond has visits scheduled with the Chiefs and Titans, as well.
- Brooke Pryor of ESPN tells us that the Steelers hosted a full house on Thursday. Prospects on hand last week included Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
- Lastly, Pryor adds that Pittsburgh was one of the recent teams to host South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The pre-draft standout had reportedly lined up visits with Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami already. The Steelers’ interest in the Gamecock is no surprise as he’s trending towards being a Day 1 selection at this point.
Panthers Planning S Addition
The Panthers made a number of lucrative additions on the defensive side of the ball early in free agency. That effort included a three-year deal for Tre’von Moehrig, but more can be expected at the safety position. 
Moehrig enjoyed a strong walk year in 2024, his fourth and final campaign with the Raiders. The 25-year-old posted 104 tackles, adding a pair of interceptions, 10 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. Moehrig has established himself as a notable contributor near the line of scrimmage in particular, and a workload along those lines in Carolina would not come as a surprise.
The Panthers’ depth chart also includes veteran Nick Scott and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Bringing in one or more contributors through free agency or the draft could bring about competition for a starting gig or depth in the secondary. Especially after losing Xavier Woods on the open market, adding a deep safety to complement Moehrig’s skillset would be a feasible approach.
“We’ll see what happens there,” general manager Dan Morgan said when speaking about the safety position (via the team’s website). “The numbers aren’t where they need to be there, but we’ll get there, and, you know, we just gotta stay patient, stay with the plan, and let it happen. But in terms of a ball hawk on the backside, yeah, we’re going to look for somebody, we’re going to look for players to take the ball away. Who that is, I don’t know, but we’re actively pursuing and we’ll be aggressive when the time comes.”
Carolina recently hosted free agent Julian Blackmon on a visit, and Morgan noted the same is true of Marcus Williams. Blackmon remained a Colts starter while playing on a one-year deal in 2024, while Williams was benched midway through the season before expectedly being released by the Ravens. A deal with one of those – or another experienced option like Justin Simmons – would add a starting-caliber option to the mix.
The Panthers are one of many teams which have conducted a pre-draft visit with Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina product is seen as one of the two first-round safety prospects in this year’s class (Georgia’s Malaki Starks being the other), although taking him eighth overall would be seen by many as a reach. In any case, the Panthers are worth watching with respect to adding further at the safety spot before the season begins.
Cardinals To Meet With James Pearce, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams
The Cardinals let Chandler Jones walk in free agency during the 2022 offseason, and they lost all-time great J.J. Watt and eventual All-Pro Zach Allen in 2023. Arizona did not come especially close to picking up the pieces during the 2023 and ’24 seasons, but the team’s offseason has acknowledged the need for a better pass rush.
After re-signing trade pickup Baron Browning, the Cardinals reunited Jonathan Gannon with Josh Sweat. PFR’s No. 2-ranked free agent joined the team on a four-year, $76.4MM deal. It does not appear the Cards are content with Browning, Zaven Collins and BJ Ojulari as Sweat’s complementary pieces, as some high-profile “30” visits are on tap.
Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams and James Pearce Jr. are set to meet with the team, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Dennis Gardeck‘s six-sack season in 2023 represents Arizona’s highwater mark post-Watt, with converted ILB Collins leading the way with just five in 2024.
The Cards extended Collins last year, giving the former Steve Keim-era first-round pick a two-year, $14MM deal. Collins is signed through 2026, but nothing is guaranteed beyond this season. L.J. Collier is also back, but the ex-Seahawks first-round EDGE is on a one-year, $3MM accord that comes with $1.5MM guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. A $1MM incentive package is included in Collier’s second Cards contract.
With Sweat headlining this group, the Cardinals have the makings of a far more formidable pass rush — one that includes 2024 first-round D-lineman Darius Robinson — compared to recent years, but their “30” visits indeed point to a strong interest in making another high-level investment to strengthen its pressure cadre. It would almost definitely take a first-round pick to land Walker, Williams or Pearce. The Cardinals hold the No. 16 overall pick.
Walker sits fifth on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com big board, making it rather unlikely he falls to No. 16. While last year’s draft seeing no defender go in the top 14 brought an early imbalance, an abundance of quarterback selections made that possible. No QB run is expected beyond Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders this year, which will likely see this draft’s top non-Abdul Carter defenders go earlier.
A backup during Georgia’s 2022 national championship-winning season, Walker began to play a bigger role in the latter slate. Over the past two seasons, Walker combined for 11.5 sacks. Last season, he posted 11 tackles for loss en route to All-American acclaim. Walker has experience on and off the ball, which is rather familiar territory for a Cardinals team that drafted both Collins and Haason Reddick.
Respectively sitting 22nd and 26th on Jeremiah’s board, Williams and Pearce may well be available at No. 16. A Walker Georgia teammate, Williams played more than his slightly higher-regarded teammate as a freshman and closed his college career with 14 sacks in three seasons. Williams finished with nine TFLs and two forced fumbles in 2024. He earned second-team All-SEC honors last year but played through a sprained ankle during his final Bulldogs slate. Pearce was more productive than either, combining for 17.5 sacks from 2023-24; this included an SEC-leading 10 in ’23. The Saints (No. 9 overall) have also come up as a potential Pearce suitor.
The Panthers, who boast a bigger EDGE need compared to the Cardinals, also met with Walker, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes. Carolina holds the No. 8 overall pick. The NFC South team also has seen Williams connections form. Although the Panthers made an addition here, Patrick Jones does not quite move the needle like Sweat does. The team is still searching for a Brian Burns successor, whereas the Cards spent to hope Sweat can deliver Chandler Jones-like production.
Panthers Showed Interest In D.K. Metcalf, Eyeing Pass-Catching Help
The Panthers changed course at wide receiver midway through last season, trading both Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo before the deadline. Although Adam Thielen is coming back, he is going into an age-35 season. It appears likely Carolina will go back to the receiver well in this draft.
This has been a trend for the post-D.J. Moore Panthers, who chose Mingo in the 2023 second round and Xavier Legette in last year’s first. This came after a miss on Terrace Marshall in the 2021 second. Legette will obviously still be given a chance to be a regular, though UDFA Jalen Coker showed a bit more promise as a rookie, but key supplementation is almost definitely coming.
[RELATED: Metcalf Eyed Chargers, Texans As Landing Spots]
Carolina made an understandable inquiry into the Seattle receiver situation recently. Seeing as Dave Canales was D.K. Metcalf‘s former position coach, he told Kay Adams (during an Up & Adams appearance) with Dan Morgan about a potential trade after the receiver’s request to be moved. Morgan also spent time in Seattle, operating as a scout and front office exec there for eight years. Though, that was before Metcalf’s arrival. Canales overlapped with Metcalf for four seasons; the big-bodied WR’s career began with Canales as his position coach.
While Carolina showed interest, The Athletic’s Joe Person indicates no offer was made. The Panthers join the Patriots and Packers among teams that did not make an offer. The Seahawks ended up letting Metcalf go for a second-round pick, and the Steelers have authorized a top-five extension. The Panthers do not have an eight-figure AAV at receiver, and that seems likely to continue in 2025. Giving Moore a lucrative deal in 2022, the team still needs help here. It should be expected to draft a pass-catching weapon early, Person adds, with Canales indicating he “would love” to draft another playmaker to boost Bryce Young‘s development. The team scheduled a Tetairoa McMillan meeting already.
The playmaker Carolina traded up for in last year’s second round, Jonathon Brooks, is expected to miss much of the season after a second ACL tear. The Panthers, though, have running back covered via their Chuba Hubbard extension and Rico Dowdle signing. Coker led all UDFAs in receptions, yards and TD grabs last season and still figures to have a role. But the Panthers figure to bring in either a starting wideout or tight end (or both) during this draft, with Person adding the team is doing due diligence on Tyler Warren — a Penn State product that has generated interest from several teams. The Panthers, who have not seen too much from the TE spot since Greg Olsen, could outflank much of this lot, as they hold the No. 8 overall pick.
Thielen agreed to stay on a revised deal, representing perhaps a slight surprise due to his 2024 injuries and the cap savings that would have come had Carolina moved on. Though, the terms of Thielen’s return do give the team flexibility.
The Panthers have the former Pro Bowler tied to a $6.25MM base salary, but only $1.5MM of that is guaranteed. Carrying a $10.11MM cap number, Thielen could be cut to produce $5.1MM in cap savings. The Panthers would eat some dead money due to the $1.5MM guarantee and the two void years on the contract in that scenario.
Thielen remained productive when available last year. Missing seven games, he still nearly matched his per-game average from a 1,000-yard 2023 by posting 58.1 yards per contest in ’24. A former tryout body who caught on with his home-state Vikings, Thielen has become one of the better UDFA receivers in NFL history. He is now aiming for a 13th season in 2025.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/1/25
Today’s only minor move in the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: RB Raheem Blackshear
Although Blackshear didn’t get much run on offense as RB3 behind Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in 2024, and despite the addition of Rico Dowdle and the health of Jonathon Brooks for this upcoming season likely pushing him to RB4, the signing of Blackshear shores up an important position on special teams for the Panthers.
Blackshear served as Carolina’s regular return man on kickoffs and punts. In a year where the league was trying out something new with the kickoff rules, Blackshear led the NFL with 31 returns. He added 17 punt returns in 2024, as well. He ends up returning to Carolina after the team chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent a month ago.