Carolina Panthers Rookie Forecast 2025

Panthers Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M – Round 2

The Panthers entered the 2025 NFL Draft needing a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball. Carolina’s defense was horrific in 2024, and the lack of pass rush was a painful weakness. Thus, it was surprising when the Panthers declined to help their defense in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Carolina general manager Dan Morgan drew on the defensive line depth and came away with a pair of edge rushers on day two. At one time, Scourton was viewed as a future first-rounder so he could be a nice value pick in the second frame.

In the pass rush, Scourton can contribute as he is a strong pass rusher with a nose for the quarterback. Scourton has some variety in moves and is very physical with offensive tackles. Scourton is strong enough to push through blockers, showing a vigorous bull rush and rip move to get tackles moving backward to the quarterback. After getting a push, Scourton can shed blocks with his strength and consume the quarterback. Once he breaks free, Scourton has a closing burst to finish the play and get to the quarterback. In the NFL, he won’t overwhelm offensive tackles with explosive speed or dominant power. Scourton has speed limitations, and that made him more of a day-two talent.

As a run defender, Scourton is strong and capable of holding his ground. Scourton gives a good effort and plays tough. He fights hard to get off blocks and pursues backs out of his gap. He lacks some length, but as a pro he could become a solid edge setter in the ground game.

After releasing Jadeveon Clowney, Scourton could be a plug-and-play starter in Carolina. After some developmental time, I think Scourton could turn into a solid starter but may never be an elite player.

2024: Jonathon Brooks, RB
2023: Jonathan Mingo, WR
2022: Ikem Ekownu, OT
2021: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR
2020: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE
2019: Brian Burns, DE
2018: D.J. Moore, WR
2017: Curtis Samuel, WR
2016: Daryl Worley, CB
2015: Shaq Thompson, LB
2014: Trai Turner, G
2013: Kawann Short, DT

Most Likely To Bust

Princely Umanmielen, DE, Ole Miss – Round 3

The Panthers doubled up on edge rushers when they selected Umanmielen in the third round. Over the past two seasons, Umanmielen was a steady pass rusher at Florida and Ole Miss. He showed impressive speed and athleticism off the edge. However, Umanmielen struggles as a run defender and is undersized for the NFL at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds. On top of the physical limitations, Umanmielen has major character concerns, and some teams dropped him off their boards. Of the Panthers’ early-round picks, Umanmielen has the most bust potential.

2024: Trevin Wallace, LB
2023: D.J. Johnson, OLB
2022: Matt Corral, QB
2021: Brady Christensen, OT
2020: Jeremy Chinn, S
2019: Will Grier, QB
2018: Rashaan Gaulden, CB
2017: Daeshon Hall, DE
2016: James Bradberry, DB
2015: Devin Funchess, WR
2014: Kelvin Benjamin, WR
2013: Edmund Kugbila, G

Potential Boom Pick

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona – Round 1

Since taking ownership of the Carolina Panthers, David Tepper has made a lot of bad decisions, illustrating his novice knowledge of football and transforming a competitive team into one of the worst teams in the NFL. Along with bad head coach hires, Tepper has pushed a lot of talent off the Carolina roster. The Panthers could have had an offense with Baker Mayfield at quarterback, Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, and D.J. Moore at wide receiver the past few seasons if it weren’t for Tepper’s poor decision-making. Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold was also jettisoned, and he has blossomed into a quarterback who guided his team to a 14-3 record last season. Tepper forced Carolina to give up the farm for Bryce Young, and now, getting Young to turn into an effective quarterback is the primary objective for the franchise. Even though the Panthers have some players for Young to work with at receiver, they decided to add another weapon for Young with the selection of McMillan with the eighth-overall pick.

NFL teams are always looking for wide receivers with No. 1 potential, and McMillan (6-4, 210) checks those boxes for the next level. McMillan is a big, wide out with excellent height, length, and a superb catch radius. He really attacks the football and regularly makes highlight-reel catches. With a massive wingspan, McMillan is a safety outlet for his quarterback, as he can make difficult catches in the middle of the field or along the sideline. McMillan does a superb job of coming back to the football, and he really helps his quarterback with how he undercuts coverage and reduces the time of the ball in flight. McMillan is a real asset in the red zone, and a third-down weapon to make a play for his quarterback when nothing is open and a ball needs to be thrown up for grabs. On 50-50 passes, McMillan is superb as he routinely uses his size and body control to get position to make catches over defenders.

McMillan flashes yards after the catch ability for the next level. He does a good job of maintaining his balance while bouncing off his defenders. If he gets a little stronger, that could make him more effective as a yards-after-the-catch receiver. McMillan is effective on wide receiver screens and has a nose for getting first down or scoring yardage.

McMillan is quicker than he is fast, and he has enough speed to get downfield or find soft spots in zones. While McMillan is not a burner by NFL standards, he has enough quickness to do damage downfield. McMillan is a big receiver who will make amazing leaping grabs. He won’t be a huge separation wideout at the pro level, but he can run well enough to be effective. McMillan could stand to get more physical with defenders. He has the size to be that kind of bullying receiver, but he needs to develop that mentality. McMillan also needs to develop a better work ethic as sources at other teams said things have come so easily for McMillan that he is not known as a hard worker.

McMillan should be a plug-and-play starter with Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette. If Bryce Young continues to progress, McMillan has boom pick potential in Carolina, but a lot of that depends on Young panning out and McMillan dedicating himself to being the best player he can possibly be.

2024: Xavier Legette, WR
2023: Bryce Young, QB
2022: None
2021: Jaycee Horn, CB
2020: Derrick Brown, DT
2019: Greg Little, OT
2018: Donte Jackson, CB
2017: Christian McCaffrey, RB
2016: Vernon Butler, DT
2015: Darryl Williams, OL
2014: Kony Ealy, DE
2013: Star Lotulelei, DT

Future Depth Player

Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia – Round 4

Before Carolina lost a lot of their good scouts to other teams, a few of the Marty Hurney holdovers pushed the team to draft Chuba Hubbard, and he has turned into a fourth-round steal for the Panthers. Hubbard is a good starter, so Etienne will compete for backup reps. With Florida and Georgia, Etienne was a hard-nosed back who showed some natural instincts as a runner. While he is not overly fast or powerful, Etienne is a capable backup running back for the NFL who could rotate into the game and help keep the starter fresh. While Etienne may not have Hubbard’s upside, Etienne could be a solid backup at the pro level.

2024: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
2023: Jammie Robinson, DB
2022: Brandon Smith, LB
2021: Chuba Hubbard, RB
2020: Stantley Thomas-Oliver, CB
2019: Christian Miller, LB
2018: Ian Thomas, TE
2017: Corn Elder, CB
2016: Zach Sanchez, CB
2015: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB
2014: Tre Boston, S
2013: Kenjon Barner, RB