A year ago to the day, we rolled out our first Carolina Panthers mock for the 2025 NFL Draft, which started with a joke about Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson before rolling into the picks, which leaned heavily toward the defensive side.
The more things change …
First, some accounting: So we didn’t correctly identify any of the Panthers’ picks in that initial mock, but we at least hit on four of the position groups Dan Morgan wound up addressing — edge rusher, defensive tackle, safety and running back.
So there’s that.
The post-Super Bowl mock is a challenging exercise, given that it falls exactly a month before free agency begins, which will affect Morgan’s draft decisions. However, mock season is upon us, so away we go.
Following the format of Panthers mock 1.0 last year, we did not include any trades. They’ll come in later iterations. And in consulting with Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft guru, at least one of these picks might have been a little too optimistic. But, hey, the Panthers hosted a playoff game for the first time in 10 years, and the snow has melted in Charlotte — so you’ll excuse us if this first mock was a little on the sunny side.
Round 1, No. 19Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami
It was tempting to kick off mock season with a Georgia linebacker again, and C.J. Allen certainly could help Ejiro Evero’s defense as a three-down backer.
But Morgan has made no bones about improving the pass rush this offseason, and it just so happens that his alma mater boasts two guys who can help with that.
Rueben Bain is projected as a top-10 pick, but Mesidor might be the most polished pass rusher in the draft. Granted, he’s had a lot of time for that polishing: The Ontario native turns 25 in April. Morgan hasn’t selected a player older than 23 in his first two drafts.
However, the 6-3, 270-pound, high-energy Mesidor will inject juice into the pass rush from Day 1 after leading the ACC with 12 1/2 sacks and finishing with 17 1/2 tackles for loss last season.
Round 2, No. 51Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
The Panthers may have to trade up a little higher in the second round to snag Hill, who racked up 17 sacks in three seasons for the Longhorns despite playing primarily as an off-ball linebacker.
Hill has the speed and athleticism to run down ball carriers sideline to sideline, and the size (6-3, 238) and attitude to meet them in the hole with authority. His coverage skills remain a work in progress, but he looks like someone who’s about to begin a long and successful NFL career.
You might say he was born ready, coming into the world at the same hospital in Wichita, Kan., as Barry Sanders. In his second game at Texas, Hill had six tackles and two sacks in a win over Alabama, including one on the Crimson Tide’s final offensive play.
Round 3, No. 83Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
The Panthers haven’t drafted an offensive lineman since Morgan was promoted, and Dave Canales and Brandt Tilis arrived in 2024. There was a good chance that trend was going to end even before Ikem Ekwonu ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Now the Panthers have to address the tackle position and might double down in the draft and free agency.
The 6-7, 336-pound Crownover is a large human with a huge wingspan, and helped himself with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, where he played both tackle spots.
Brugler doesn’t have Crownover ranked among his top 100 prospects, viewing him as a raw prospect capable of making an impact down the road. If the Panthers sign a stopgap tackle in free agency, Crownover could be worth drafting as the future successor to Ekwonu or Taylor Moton.
Round 4, No. 119Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
You’ve reached the overly optimistic portion of the mock — or not. Brugler sees Wheatley as a third-round pick and slotted him as his 55th-ranked prospect, one spot ahead of Hill. But others think Wheatley could sneak into the fourth round: He did not appear in the three-round mock by The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner.
The fourth round was where the Panthers took Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom last year with the 122nd pick. And while Ransom was productive as a rookie, his physical set is more like Tre’von Moehrig’s than that of a rangy free safety who can roam the back end.
Wheatley, who measured just a shade under 6-3 at the Senior Bowl, fits that description. He has the speed to match up well with slot receivers and nimble tight ends, as well as good ball skills. Wheatley had six interceptions for the Nittany Lions, including three in 2024, to go with a career-high 96 tackles.
Round 5, No. 157Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Morgan has said he’s interested in bringing in a young quarterback to develop behind Bryce Young, mentioning he’d be looking for someone who can make plays with both his arm and feet.
Green has shown off a dual-threat toolbox at Boise State and Arkansas, with 2,400 career rushing yards over four seasons. His 777 rushing yards last season ranked 11th among all QBs.
Green won’t remind anyone of Young: He measured 6-6 and weighed 229 pounds at the Senior Bowl. Green’s big arm is a bit of a loose cannon, with 20 interceptions over his two seasons with the Razorbacks. That wouldn’t jibe well with Canales’ “all about the ball” philosophy.
Teams have been impressed with Green’s talent and his character, but it may be that he’s more of a project than what Morgan wants to take on.
Aaron Anderson was limited to nine games last season at LSU and caught 33 passes for 398 yards. (Petre Thomas / Imagn Images)
Round 5, No. 161Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU
In addition to improving the pass rush (box checked, see above) and developing a quarterback (check), Morgan has said that adding a speed receiver who can make yards after the catch or in the run game would be a valuable asset to Young and the offense.
The Panthers took a swing at a YAC receiver in the sixth round with Jimmy Horn Jr., who flashed occasionally as a rookie but not consistently enough, or Morgan wouldn’t be talking about it. They could take another swing this year, but a round earlier with the 5-8, 188-pound Anderson, who is in the same mold size-wise as the 5-8, 174-pound Horn.
Anderson ran track in high school and began his career at Alabama before transferring to LSU, where he was the Tigers’ leading receiver in 2024 before an injury-plagued 2025. Some analysts expect Anderson to run a sub-4.4 40 before the draft. With that type of speed, it’s surprising LSU didn’t use Anderson more in the return game, especially after his 100-yard kickoff return against Oklahoma in the Tigers’ final regular-season game in 2024.
Round 6, No. 199Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
The Panthers are set with starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, who combined for nine interceptions and 27 pass breakups (including a league-leading 19 by Jackson).
However, there’s not a lot behind them besides Chau Smith-Wade, who’s more comfortable inside at nickel. Having worked in Seattle, Canales and Morgan love length at corner. That’s a good starting point with the 6-foot-3, long-armed Prysock, who played his first two seasons at Arizona and will need to continue developing his ball skills.
But his size and instincts helped him force 19 incompletions last season, most among Big Ten cornerbacks.