Following an interesting test through the 2025 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers finally put their pencils down on Saturday evening.
But did they pass that test with flying colors?
Here are our grades for each of the team’s eight draft picks:
First round (No. 8):Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Thursday night’s selection of McMillan was a pleasant surprise. Despite all the noise about trading back or selecting a defensive player, the Panthers sat tight and grabbed a prospective No. 1 guy for quarterback Bryce Young.
The ultra-productive 6-foot-4, 219-pound All-American can serve as the go-to X receiver—allowing 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette to assume a more natural role as a complementary big-play threat. McMillan not only gives the offense a reliable high-volume weapon who can win downfield and in the end zone, but should also make the wideouts around him even better.
Grade: A
Second round (No. 51): Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The target of the first of two trade-ups on Friday night, Scourton checks all the boxes the Panthers are looking for in a pass rusher.
He’s big, he’s athletic and he’s offered up some top-end production in college. Oh, and he doesn’t even turn 20 years old until the end of the preseason.
If defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his staff play Scourton more like the double-digit sack artist he was at Purdue in 2023, and less like the Aggies did this past season, then we might be looking back at this pick as one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Grade: B+
Third round (No. 77):Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Like Scourton, Umanmielen was secured after a jump up the board. And also like Scourton, Umanmielen possesses all those desired traits for Carolina.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder, who was projected by some as a late first-round pick, notched 7.0 sacks for Florida in 2023 and 11.5 for Mississippi in 2024. His motor always runs hot and he’s just scratching the surface as a pass rusher.
Scourton and Umanmielen could give the Panthers defense, which ranked last in pressure rate last year, a nice injection of youth and promise off the edge.
Grade: A-
Fourth round (No. 114): Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
With the uncertainty surrounding the status of 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, the Panthers needed to lock down a No. 3 back behind Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. They may have done just that with this choice.
Etienne, 5-foot-9 and 198 pounds, probably won’t be getting many yards after contact at the NFL level. But his speed and pass-catching ability could give the offense a nice change-of-pace option out of the backfield.
He also gets bonus points for his experience as a returner, another spot Carolina has to figure out.
Grade: C
Fourth round (No. 122): Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
Ransom feels like a mini-version of Tre’von Moehrig, the Panthers’ big free-agent signing from this offseason. He’s a rock-solid run defender, he’s adequate enough in coverage and he’ll never hesitate to lower the boom.
Although Carolina might’ve been better off trying to find a starting free safety, they still need depth in the backend. They entered the weekend with only three safeties—Moehrig, Nick Scott and Demani Richardson.
Grade: C+
Fifth round (No. 140): Cam Jackson, DL, Florida
In addition to being awful at creating pressure, the historically-bad Panthers defense was also putrid against the run. The unit allowed 179.8 rushing yards per game last season, by far the most in the NFL.
Throwing a powerful and potent 6-foot-6, 328-pound monster into the defensive line room can’t hurt, right? Jackson is a pure nose tackle, possibly bringing some competition behind Bobby Brown III and Shy Tuttle.
Grade: B-
Fifth round(No. 163): Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Speaking of competition, Carolina’s tight end group needs a jolt.
Evans is a well-rounded prospect who flashed some eye-popping athleticism as a pass catcher. He’ll need a bit of development and his injury history might be a concern, but this 6-foot-5, 258-pounder has a chance to become TE1 for the Panthers down the line.
Grade: B
Sixth round (No. 208): Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado
Horn Jr. may be small at 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, but his big-play prowess should give him a bit more than an outside chance of making the roster. And if that doesn’t, then his well-documented skills as a return man could.
His speed, toughness and ability to take the top off of opposing defenses must be appealing to the Panthers—who finished 30th in yards per attempt in 2024. So in essence, they’re taking a flier on a flyer.
Grade: B-
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Our grades for all 8 picks by the Carolina Panthers
Following an interesting test through the 2025 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers finally put their pencils down on Saturday evening.
But did they pass that test with flying colors?
Here are our grades for each of the team’s eight draft picks:
First round (No. 8):Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Thursday night’s selection of McMillan was a pleasant surprise. Despite all the noise about trading back or selecting a defensive player, the Panthers sat tight and grabbed a prospective No. 1 guy for quarterback Bryce Young.
The ultra-productive 6-foot-4, 219-pound All-American can serve as the go-to X receiver—allowing 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette to assume a more natural role as a complementary big-play threat. McMillan not only gives the offense a reliable high-volume weapon who can win downfield and in the end zone, but should also make the wideouts around him even better.
Grade: A
Second round (No. 51): Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The target of the first of two trade-ups on Friday night, Scourton checks all the boxes the Panthers are looking for in a pass rusher.
He’s big, he’s athletic and he’s offered up some top-end production in college. Oh, and he doesn’t even turn 20 years old until the end of the preseason.
If defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his staff play Scourton more like the double-digit sack artist he was at Purdue in 2023, and less like the Aggies did this past season, then we might be looking back at this pick as one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Grade: B+
Third round (No. 77):Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Like Scourton, Umanmielen was secured after a jump up the board. And also like Scourton, Umanmielen possesses all those desired traits for Carolina.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder, who was projected by some as a late first-round pick, notched 7.0 sacks for Florida in 2023 and 11.5 for Mississippi in 2024. His motor always runs hot and he’s just scratching the surface as a pass rusher.
Scourton and Umanmielen could give the Panthers defense, which ranked last in pressure rate last year, a nice injection of youth and promise off the edge.
Grade: A-
Fourth round (No. 114): Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
With the uncertainty surrounding the status of 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, the Panthers needed to lock down a No. 3 back behind Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. They may have done just that with this choice.
Etienne, 5-foot-9 and 198 pounds, probably won’t be getting many yards after contact at the NFL level. But his speed and pass-catching ability could give the offense a nice change-of-pace option out of the backfield.
He also gets bonus points for his experience as a returner, another spot Carolina has to figure out.
Grade: C
Fourth round (No. 122): Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
Ransom feels like a mini-version of Tre’von Moehrig, the Panthers’ big free-agent signing from this offseason. He’s a rock-solid run defender, he’s adequate enough in coverage and he’ll never hesitate to lower the boom.
Although Carolina might’ve been better off trying to find a starting free safety, they still need depth in the backend. They entered the weekend with only three safeties—Moehrig, Nick Scott and Demani Richardson.
Grade: C+
Fifth round (No. 140): Cam Jackson, DL, Florida
In addition to being awful at creating pressure, the historically-bad Panthers defense was also putrid against the run. The unit allowed 179.8 rushing yards per game last season, by far the most in the NFL.
Throwing a powerful and potent 6-foot-6, 328-pound monster into the defensive line room can’t hurt, right? Jackson is a pure nose tackle, possibly bringing some competition behind Bobby Brown III and Shy Tuttle.
Grade: B-
Fifth round(No. 163): Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Speaking of competition, Carolina’s tight end group needs a jolt.
Evans is a well-rounded prospect who flashed some eye-popping athleticism as a pass catcher. He’ll need a bit of development and his injury history might be a concern, but this 6-foot-5, 258-pounder has a chance to become TE1 for the Panthers down the line.
Grade: B
Sixth round (No. 208): Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado
Horn Jr. may be small at 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, but his big-play prowess should give him a bit more than an outside chance of making the roster. And if that doesn’t, then his well-documented skills as a return man could.
His speed, toughness and ability to take the top off of opposing defenses must be appealing to the Panthers—who finished 30th in yards per attempt in 2024. So in essence, they’re taking a flier on a flyer.
Grade: B-
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Our grades for all 8 picks by the Carolina Panthers
