WHAT WENT RIGHT IN 2025
As mentioned, Moehrig’s addition opened up a lot of things for the Panthers safety unit and defense as a whole. Because he was playing so close to the line, he finished with 103 tackles (third on the team), including a team-leading 14 tackles for loss. He also added 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed, and an interception, the latter of which helped win the Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers.
Moehrig was able to roam more because the Panthers trusted Scott to hold down the back end, something he did to the tune of 111 tackles (second-most on the team), three passes defensed, and an interception. Speaking of picks that helped swing a game, it was Scott who picked off Matthew Stafford in Week 13, ruining an NFL record 28 touchdown streak without an interception. Scott picked him off in the end zone, taking away the Rams chance to score in what concluded as a three-point Panthers win.
It was the rookie Ransom though who had one of the biggest turnovers of the season. During the Week 16 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game the Panthers had to win to maintain control of the NFC South, Baker Mayfield was driving the Bucs downfield with less than a minute remaining. Ransom sat back while veteran receiver Mike Evans ran a different route than Mayfield was expecting. Ransom took advantage, picking off Mayfield for a game-sealing interception.
It was a fitting cap to a rookie season that gave the Panthers a good look at who Ransom can be in this defense. He finished with 51 total tackles, the pick, and two passes defensed, as well as a forced fumble.