The Carolina Panthers came away with eight new players from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tetairoa McMillan, Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen, Trevor Etienne, Lathan Ransom, Cam Jackson, Mitchell Evans, and Jimmy Horn Jr. are now all Panthers.
The questions are, how good are these picks, and how much do the Panthers actually improve? Let’s take a look at each pick and evaluate them based on value, positional need, and talent.
Tetairoa McMillan: B+
This pick falls between a B+ or A- as McMillan became a somewhat polarizing talent.
He went from consensus wide receiver one to being questioned for his ability to create separation. Despite the concerns, he’s a much-needed high-end skill position talent, as the Panthers lacked big-play ability on offense last year.
The Panthers might have been able to get McMillan later, given the next receiver wasn’t taken until pick 23. Carolina got a very talented player in a position of need — albeit not the most needed — but didn’t get the best value out of the pick, rounding this out at a B+.
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Nic Scourton: A
The Panthers clearly loved Nic Scourton as they traded up six spots with the Denver Broncos to draft the edge-rusher out of Texas A&M.
Scourton was a productive pass rusher for Purdue (2023) and Texas A&M (2024), leading both teams in TFLs (tackles for losses) and sacks. His concerns are his playing weight and lack of quick-twitch of the elite pass rushers, but he is productive, pro-ready, and has the benefit of being one of the youngest players in the draft.
Ultimately, getting a day-one starter who fills your biggest position of need is solid value in the second round, making this pick an A.
Princely Umanmielen: A-
Again, the Panthers loved the value here as they once again traded up, this time eight places, with the New England Patriots.
Umanmielen possessed excellent value in the third round as his skill set is perfect for the 3-4 scheme Panthers’ DC Ejiro Evero likes to run. Umanmielen struggles with his strength and relies more on his athleticism and flexibility, which work best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Another excellent pick in a position of need makes this third-round pick an A-.
Trevor Etienne: D+
This grade is not an indictment of the ability or talent of the Georgia running back, but more to do with the value and positional need of the pick.
The Panthers gave Chuba Hubbard a four-year, 33.2 million contract extension, locking him down as a key piece for years to come. They also signed running back Rico Dowdle in free agency and spent a second-round pick last year on Jonathan Brooks. The Panthers have other holes on defense to fill to have spent a pick on a running back who may struggle to see the field, making this a D+.
Lathan Ransom: A-
A physical and strong safety out of Ohio State, Lathan Ransom could be a nice player in run situations, zone situations, or special teams, making him a potential immediate impact player.
His footwork and lack of change of direction make it difficult to see him be an every-down starter, but he can be an effective situational player. In the fourth round and beyond, you’re looking for players who can make a significant impact on the team, and Ransom can provide that, with a good chance of starting alongside Tre’von Moehrig, making this pick an A-.
Cam Jackson: B+
A big nose tackle out of Florida, Cam Jackson, is very much a run-stopper specialist who could provide more depth in the nose tackle position that the Panthers were exposed last year for not having.
Coming in for certain situations, as opposed to Bobby Brown III and rotating with Derrick Brown, will make him valuable enough to have some playing time. He’s also 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds, which is such a freakish frame that makes it hard not to take a punt on him in the 5th round.
He’s likely a long-term run specialist, making this a B+.
Mitchell Evans: A+
The Panthers took advantage of a strong tight end by drafting Mitchell Evans in the third round.
The Notre Dame tight end doesn’t have the collegiate numbers, as he started his collegiate career mostly as a blocking tight end and tore his ACL in 2023. Still, in his senior year, he demonstrated a more pronounced pass-catching ability, highlighted by big games against Penn State and Ohio State. He can be a good bunch formation guy as a blocker and a good red zone threat as opposed to JT Sanders, who’s more of a yard after catch tight end.
The value in Evans in the fifth round is there, and he provides help for the rushing offense and the red zone offense overall, making this an A+.
Jimmy Horn Jr.: A-
It’s difficult grading a sixth-round pick because it becomes about whether this player makes any impact on the roster at all.
For the Panthers’ needs, there are ways Jimmy Horn Jr. can provide things that the current roster doesn’t have. He has speed that the current wide receiver room lacks, and he can be a good player on gadget plays. He is also likely to become the team’s kick returner, making him great value for the pick, and earning it an A-.
Final Grade: A-
The Panthers improved significantly through this draft, addressing most of their positional needs.
They secured great value picks after the first two rounds and are now set up to be a contender for the NFC South. They get an A- because they didn’t nail every pick, but overall, they didn’t do too much wrong.
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