I spoke of the many needs the Carolina Panthers had coming into last week’s NFL draft. Defensive help along with wide receiver help were the Panthers most pressing needs. The needs were addressed and the roster, on both sides of the ball, will look much better in 2025.
It was thought that Carolina would use its first pick on a pass rusher. But when wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was still available at pick number eight, general manager Dan Morgan chose to take McMillan. The Arizona product was viewed as the best pure receiver in the draft. McMillan should step in immediately and will likely emerge as the team’s top receiving threat.
The Panthers went for defense in the second round and got the pass rusher they were looking for in Nic Scourton from Texas A&M. Scourton’s college production as a pass rusher was better than Jalon Walker, who the Panthers were widely expected to pick in Round 1 until McMillan became available. Scourton gives Carolina what should be a quality defender for years.
The Panthers third round pick was another pass rusher. This one has quite the name. Carolina fans hope to hear the name Princely Umanmielen a lot. He and Scourton should become household names on defense for the Panthers over the next decade.
Morgan’s next pick was Georgia running back Trevor Etienne. I realize that Carolina has two quality backs in Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. I look for Etienne emerging as the number one back before Thanksgiving of this year.
The franchise needed a safety sometime in the draft and got a good one in the next round. Lathan Ransom out of Ohio State is a physical tackler who will be a huge help against the run.
The last three selections were Cam Jackson, a nose tackle from Florida, Mitchell Evans, a tight end from Notre Dame, and wide receiver Jimmy Horn out of Colorado.
Another thing I like about this year’s draft is that the new additions came from quality college programs. I have always been a big believer in teams selecting the best players from the best colleges in the nation. Morgan did that for Carolina this year and I feel Panthers fans will reap the benefits of taking players from schools like Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M.
