Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images
Many Panthers fans want the Panthers to trade down and acquire more picks. What would that look like?
My idea of trading up in the 2025
NFL Draft did not go over well, so let’s give the people what they want. In this particular mock draft, I used the
Pro Football Network mock draft simulator (because I didn’t want to pay for the PFF one). I had a simple set of rules for this mock as the
Carolina Panthers. If another team offers a trade, I have to accept. If multiple teams offer a trade, I accept what I consider the best offer. My first priority was to gain more picks in this year’s draft, but gaining picks in next year’s draft would also be an option. If no other teams offered a trade, I took what I considered to be the best player available who could fit what the Panthers like to do on offense and defense. Let’s see what happened in our first mock draft officially sponsored by Trade Down Island!
Round One
The top seven picks went in this order with no trades: Ward, Hunter, Membou, Carter, McMillan, Johnson, Graham. That is close to the worst possible scenario for the Panthers sitting at eighth overall, but luckily four different teams offered trades. Instead of dropping all the way into the 20s, I traded the pick to the Bears in exchange for the 10th overall pick and a second round pick in next year’s draft. The Bears ended up taking Kelvin Banks, the OT from Texas.
After dropping to the 10th pick, the Lions and
Texans offered similar packages, but the Texans offer was better by a couple draft slots. I ended up giving the 10th pick to Houston for the 25th and 58th picks in this draft and next year’s second and third round picks. Interestingly, the Texans also took a tackle,
LSU’s Will Campbell, with that pick.
Three teams were interested in the 25th pick, and the best offer was from Kansas City. I gave up 25 and 140 for 31 and 63. Once again, it was an offensive tackle the trading team was targeting, and the Chiefs used pick 25 to take Josh Simmons from
Ohio State.
The
Steelers traded down with the Eagles, so Pittsburgh actually had the 32nd pick. They offered that pick and a third rounder next year to move up one spot, and I happily obliged. They took edge rusher Mike Green from Marshall.
With the last pick in the first round, the Panthers were once again taking calls. This time the Saints offered the 40th pick and a second rounder next year for pick 32. The division rivals took Ohio State offensive guard Donovan Jackson. And with that trade, the Panthers were out of the first round entirely.
Round Two
Now in the second round and without using a single pick, the Panthers got offers for the 40th pick from the Bengals and
Seahawks. Both offers had two picks, but Seattle’s combination was better overall despite the Bengals offering a higher initial pick. So I traded the 40th pick to the Seahawks for 50 and 92. Derrick Harmon, DT from Oregon, was the pick at 40.
Pick 50 was a hot commodity as well. The
Browns offered two picks, but the second of the two was in next year’s draft. The
Chargers offered a couple picks in this year’s draft, so I took that option. I sent 50 and 114 to Los Angeles for 55 and 86. The Chargers added Jayden Higgins, WR from
Iowa State.
The Chargers also wanted pick 55 back, but this time around the Browns had the better package. So I sent 55 and 230 to Cleveland for 67 and 94. Unfortunately, the Browns ended up using that pick on Jalen Milroe, QB from Alabama, so the Panthers missed out on a better version of Taysom Hill.
Pick 57, which the Panthers had at the beginning of this draft, was next on the docket. When that pick was on the clock, the Lions and Seahawks came calling. The Lions had the better offer, and I traded 57 to Detroit for 60 and 130. The Lions took Azareye’h Thomas, CB from
Florida State.
The Panthers did not start the draft with pick 58, but they owned it now. Seattle was the only team interested, so I sent 58 and a seventh next year to the Seahawks for 82, 137, and a 2026 third rounder. The Hawks took Georgia offensive guard Tate Ratledge.
Pick 60 was the first pick that the Panthers had possession of while on the clock that had zero trade interest. Forced to actually make a selection, I decided on
Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr to help out Bryce Young a bit.
Pick 63 was coveted by the Bengals, so 63 and 163 went to Cincinnati in exchange for 70 and a third rounder next year. They decided to help protect Joe Burrow by taking OT Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota.
Round Three
When the 67th pick rolled around, the Patriots called and made an offer. The Panthers sent 67 and a 2026 sixth rounder to New England for 69 and a fourth rounder next year. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo was their target.
A couple teams were interested in pick 69, and the Bengals had the best offer. They sent 81 and 119 over for 69 and ended up taking LSU edge Bradyn Swinson.
The other team interested in pick 69 was the Saints, and they had to settle for the 70th pick. 70 and 146 went to New Orleans while 71 and 131 came back to Carolina. Moving up 15 picks to drop down one isn’t a bad deal at all. Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel was the Saints selection there.
The only offer for pick 71 was from the Lions. 71 and a 5th next year went to Detroit for 102 and a 3rd and 4th rounder next year.
Ole Miss edge defender Jared Ivey was taken with that pick.
Pick 74 was the second Panthers pick where the phone did not ring. There were a few players I was interested in taking, but
Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is who I ended up selecting here. He’s the type of centerfield safety the Panthers sorely need.
The next time on the clock for the Panthers was pick 81, which I traded to the
Green Bay Packers. The Packers sent 87 and 198 back to the Panthers. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke was their selection.
Pick 82 only had one interested party: the Los Angeles Chargers. 82 and Detroit’s 4th rounder next year went to Los Angeles for 114 and the Chargers’ third rounder next year. Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr headed out to LA with that pick.
The 86th pick was also coveted by the Chargers, so 86 and New England’s 4th rounder next year also went to LA. 125, the Chargers’ 4th next year, and the Lions’ 4th rounder that I just traded away came back to Carolina. LSU’s TE Mason Taylor was their selection.
Pick 87 did not have any interest, so I helped the offensive explosion by taking
Texas WR Isaiah Bond. The Panthers don’t have anyone who can stretch the field, so Bond would definitely be a welcome addition.
The
Buffalo Bills wanted the 92nd pick, so 92 and 198 went to them while 109 and 132 came back to the Panthers. The Bills took Jack Bech, WR out of
TCU.
The Panthers made another trade at pick 94. This time the Steelers came calling, offering 123, 156, and their fourth rounder next year for 94 and that Detroit 4th rounder that’s been bouncing around. The Steelers ended up taking Kansas CB Cobee Bryant.
No one wanted the last pick of the third round (
Pick 102), so I was able to actually take a player. Of course a bunch of tight ends were available after I took Finnin earlier in the draft. I decided to take
Utah State WR Jalen Royals, another speed demon and deep threat to add to Bryce Young’s arsenal.
Round Four
Pick 109 had so trade interest either, so I went with
NC State OT Anthony Belton. While he is an intriguing prospect with some solid upside, the main reasons for taking him were because I have the same last name and also went to NC State. We’re basically family despite no genetic relation.
The next Panthers selection at
pick 111 was also not appealing to other teams, so I selected
Joshua Farmer, DT from Florida State. The Panthers could use some depth on the defensive line, and Farmer is a high motor guy that coaches love.
I guess the Panthers forgot to pay the phone bill because the phones did not ring for
pick 114 either.
Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman is who I ended up taking. The Panthers have like two safeties currently on the roster, so depth there is important.
At
Pick 119, the Panthers took
Boston College OT Ozzy Trapilo. BC fans absolutely gush about Trapilo. With Cade Mays and Brady Christensen on one year deals, some depth on the line would be helpful.
When pick 123 rolled around, the phones were once again working. The Eagles were on the line offering 134 and 168, which I happily accepted. Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden was their pick.
The Bengals called again about pick 125. In the end, I sent pick 125 and Pittsburgh’s fourth rounder next year to the Bengals for 153, 163, and 182. The Bengals took
Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish.
The trade-happy Chargers called about pick 130. They ended up getting 130 and their own fourth rounder in 2026 back in exchange for 158, 181, and 199. Kansas OT Logan Brown was their target this time.
Pick 131 stayed with the Panthers, and I used it on
Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman. Some experts have compared Stutsman to Panthers linebacker Josey Jewell, and now he gets to learn from the Outlaw himself.
The Bills swooped in and offered picks 169, 170, and 177 in exchange for 132 and the Panthers fourth rounder next year. Indiana DT CJ West is who they took with that pick.
Pick 134 was used by the Panthers to take
South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. He’s a dependable linebacker, especially against the run, which Carolina desperately needs.
Near the end of round four, the Browns called and wanted pick 137 and the Chargers’ 2026 third rounder for 179, 192, 200, and 216. I wouldn’t normally accept that trade, but rules are rules. The Browns took Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson.
Round Five
Pick 153 stayed with the Panthers, and I realized I had neglected the edge rushers to this point. So I went with Syracuse edge
Fadil Diggs.
The Colts got on the phone and offered picks 165 and 185 for 156 and 216. They (for some reason) took
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard.
No one wanted
pick 158, so I used that pick to take
Oregon DT Jamaree Caldwell. He’s a big bodied tackle who excels against the run due to his strength and wide base.
Pick 163 wasn’t a coveted pick, so I took
USC center Jonah Monheim to add to the interior offensive line depth.
Pick 165 was the same story. With that pick, the Panthers took
SMU RB Brashard Smith. Smith is explosive out of the backfield and has had success in the return game as well.
By the time
pick 168 rolled around, I had already taken a lot of players, so I felt I could take a luxury pick. I went with
Louisville QB Tyler Shough. Andy Dalton is older, so Shough could be the backup in waiting.
The second of three straight picks was
pick 169, and I used that on
SMU DT Elijah Roberts. Roberts is raw, but his work ethic is unquestioned. He’s the type of gritty player coaches love, and they’ll be impressed with his potential as well.
Pick 169 was used on
Iowa safety Sebastian Castro. He’ll be a very old rookie, but he is a solid player who is versatile.
Round Six
No one wanted to trade for these late round picks, so from here on out we’ll do rapid fire results.
Pick 177: Jake Majors, C, Texas
Pick 179: Jah Joyner, edge, Minnesota
Pick 181: Que Robinson, edge, Alabama
Pick 182: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Pick 185: Simeon Barrow, DT, Miami (FL)
Pick 192: Ricky White, WR, UNLV
Pick 199: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
Pick 200: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
That concluded all of the Panthers picks in this mock draft. I think I came away with a pretty good haul. While there aren’t any guaranteed superstars, we threw plenty of darts at the board. We walked away from the draft with 25 players and nine extra day two picks next year. Here is the final tally of players taken by the Panthers:
What do you think, Panthers fans? Sound off in the comments!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929162/Screenshot_2025_03_27_124641.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25934839/Carolina_1_32725.png)
