Anthony Rizzuti
\n\u00a0|\u00a0 USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n
13 years ago, the Carolina Panthers<\/a> selected Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly with the ninth overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. Little did many know, they’d end up with a future Defensive Player of the Year, five-time first-team All-Pro and a near-first-ballot Hall of Famer<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year, the Panthers will be in a very similar position\u2014as they’re slated to choose from the 2025 draft’s eighth overall slot<\/a>. And while the odds would dictate that they won’t find themselves another Luke Kuechly, the team still has a chance to grab themselves one heck of a player.<\/p>\n Kuechly recently chatted<\/a> with Sports Lens editor DJ Siddiqi, who asked the former ‘backer and current Panthers radio analyst for his thoughts on this spring’s first-round pick.<\/p>\n \u201dYou have to find an impact player that helps you out,\u201d Kuechly replied. \u201cDo we go defense? There\u2019s some good edge rushers, there\u2019s a couple of inside guys that are really good. Do we try to find Bryce more playmakers? I think sitting there at eight, we\u2019re going to have some really good opportunities. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n But does Kuechly have any specific “impact” players in mind?<\/p>\n He was then asked who he thinks Carolina should take.<\/p>\n \u201dI\u2019m a defensive guy, love pass rushers and I love big inside defensive linemen,\u201d he stated. \u201cThere\u2019s a guy in Michigan, Mason Graham, he\u2019s a stud. Abdul Carter, the two guys at Georgia, they\u2019re all over the place. We just gotta go pick the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n Considering the Panthers just set a new single-season record<\/a> for most points allowed, investing that pick into an impact defender certainly makes sense.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Carolina, Graham and Carter\u2014who are widely considered to be two of the very top talents of the class\u2014seem unlikely to fall to them.<\/p>\n The Panthers should, however, be in play for those Georgia guys\u2014whether it’s edge rusher Mykel Williams, linebacker Jalon Walker or even safety Malaki Starks.<\/p>\n As for now, we’ll wait for these prospects to show everyone what they have from the scouting combine<\/a> in less than two weeks.<\/p>\n 2025 NFL mock draft: What if the Titans trade the No. 1 overall pick?<\/a><\/p>\n