Panthers 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Top Heisman contender fuels a change in 'identity'

The Carolina Panthers are a team looking to build something.  After a hard-fought win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, the team is feeling good, but still fighting to build an identity for the future.

Although Bryce Young returned as the starter and played well, the Panthers still must decide if the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has a future in Carolina.  Obviously, that will depend on whether he figures it out the rest of the season and finds both confidence and consistency in the role.  The same can be said for the rest of the team who are hoping to build on their 23-22 win over the Saints.

"I think building a culture and building an identity just doesn't happen overnight," Running back Chuba Hubbard said, via the team’s official website. "It's something that takes time; it doesn't just happen through the good or the bad. You kind of have to go through the ups and downs and see both sides of it to see who you truly are.

"And you know, we still have a long way to go, but definitely feels good to, you know, see the bright side of it."

With another high draft pick, is there brighter days to come for the Panthers moving forward?

Current state of the Carolina Panthers

2024 NFL season record: 2-7, 3rd in the NFC South

Team offense: Rank 30th (277.9 yards per game)

Team defense: Rank 32nd (391.9 yards per game)

2025 NFL Draft position: No. 4

Top positional needs: QB, EDGE, WR

2025 NFL Draft outlook

The Panthers will have a decision to make at the quarterback position come 2025 NFL Draft.  Much of it will depend on whether Young figures it out the rest of the 2024 NFL season.  If he doesn’t, the decision will be easy, take a QB in the top of the draft.  If he does figure it out, it will be in the team’s best interest to still draft a quarterback maybe a little later in the draft as competition.

In building identity, it starts at the QB position, and the Panthers need a field general who has natural leadership and confidence in running the offense.  Top choices will include Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Georgia QB Carson Beck and Miami’s Cameron Ward.  Some Day 2 options include LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.  Although not touted as a top-tier quarterback class, there is a lot of talent.  A team like the Panthers can go in another direction in the top of the first round and take their chances at the position in the second or third round, especially with players like Nussmeier, Gabriel and Penn State’s Drew Allar their for the taking.

Other areas of need include Edge rusher and wide receiver.  These will be two other positions deep with talent.  The Panthers could trade back for more trade capital and fill even more needs to help build their identity.  Here is an mid-season look at what general manager Dan Morgan and the Panthers will do in this three-round NFL Mock Draft. 

When it comes to identity, the Panthers find both leadership and talent in Miami quarterback Cam Ward.  No matter what happens with Young the rest of the season, Carolina will still address the position with a player who is tearing up college football with a historic season with the Hurricanes.  As a dual-threat quarterback who will remind the faithful in Carolina of Cam Newton, Ward is a player capable of galvanizing other young players around him, which is something the Panthers need in building their identity.

With ideal size at 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, Ward’s quick release and ability to create time in the pocket will give Carolina the type of passer they haven’t had since Newton.  His clutch gene and the leadership he has shown makes this an A+ pick for the Panthers at No. 4.

The Panthers inject young energy on the defensive side of the ball with the selection of Princely Umanmielen with the No. 50 overall pick on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

A 6-foot-4, 255-pound edge rusher with a first quick step, this Ole Miss defensive stud will fill the Panthers need for a player coming off the edge.  With athleticism and quickness, Umanmielen is a borderline first round pick who many teams needing an edge defender with versatility will be looking at.  He’ll have some things to work on at the NFL level, but the Panthers will love his pass rushing skills and high motor as they build their defensive identity.

The Panthers will continue to add young talent on offense with the selection of wide receiver Evan Stewart with the No. 66 overall pick.  This is actually a no-brainer at this spot in the draft for the Panthers, who will add Stewart to a young core of players they selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

With wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders going into their second seasons with the team, the addition of Ward at QB and an outside X receiver like Stewart suddenly makes Carolina’s offense both exciting and explosive…if they have the right coaching.