4 Prospects Carolina Panthers Should Avoid In 2025 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers feel like a team on the upswing.

Sure, the 2024 season was disappointing as a whole. However, quarterback Bryce Young improved after being benched and then reinserted as the starter and appears to be worth building around.

Additionally, head coach Dave Canales showed promise during his first year in charge. This offseason, the team made some solid additions in free agency, adding Tershawn Wharton and Tre’von Moehrig to the defense, among others.

Now, the team will prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft where they surely hope to add a few more starters. However, there are a few prospects that don’t appear to be great fits in Carolina currently as the team rebuilds.

Today, let’s identify four prospects in the 2025 class the Panthers should stay away from.

Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia

Jalon Walker is the most common mock draft selection for the Panthers in the first round. And, on paper, it makes sense.

Walker is a talented defender and the Panthers had one of the worst defenses in the league last year. However, Walker is a tweener, not really having a true position. The Georgia product doesn’t appear to have the chops to be an off-ball coverage linebacker, but also doesn’t show an elite natural ability as a pass-rusher.

The Panthers need defenders who can come in toa specific role and make an immediate impact. Walker would be better off landing on a team with an already solid defense that can develop his talents.

Jahdae Barron, CB/S, Texas

Like Walker, Jahdae Barron is a talented defender that doesn’t appear to have a perfect positional fit. At Texas, Barron played in the slot and on the boundary, but with short arms and a slender frame, it’s unlikely the defender lives on the outside in the NFL.

The Panthers could probably upgrade from Chau Smith-Wade at the nickel, but it would be wiser to get another solid boundary corner to go opposite Jaycee Horn. Barron would be a better fit on a team with two solid outside corners already in place.

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Look, Tyler Warren could very well be one of the best talents in this class. However, it would be hard to justify the Panthers picking a tight end early in the draft when there are so many more pressing needs on the roster.

Ja’Tavian Sanders and Tommy Tremble both performed proficiently in 2024, and Sanders in particular showed promise. Of course, Warren would upgrade the unit, but with a top-10 pick, the team has the potential to get a true difference-making defender.

Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina

Moving back to the defense, Nick Emmanwori is another prospect the Panthers should probably steer clear of.

Like Walker and Barron, Emmanwori is another defender who may not have a natural position in the NFL. The defender played safety primarily in college, but he’s got a big frame and may not be able to keep the speedy receivers in the NFL in front of him.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Emmanwori play as a linebacker in the NFL. The South Carolina product could have a career like Devine Deablo or Isaiah Simmons, who are fine players, but not what the Panthers need at this point.