CHARLOTTE — The 2025 NFL draft is now less than a month away. Teams are updating their big board every day, welcoming in prospects for visits, and evaluating their current rosters every minute of every day. Only a select few in each building know what a club might due when the first round quicks off on April 24 in Green Bay, but between now and then, we will take a look at different positions of need for the Carolina Panthers, and how they might be addressed in the upcoming draft.

The Panthers currently have nine picks:

• Rd. 1, No. 8 overall
• Rd. 2, No 57 overall (from Rams)
• Rd. 3, No. 74 overall
• Rd. 4, No. 111 overall
• Rd. 4, No. 114 overall (from Cowboys)
• Rd. 5, No. 140 overall (from Giants)
• Rd. 5, No. 146 overall
• Rd. 5, No. 163 overall (from Ravens)
• Rd. 7, No. 230 overall (from Cardinals)

Position previews are an aggregation from the opinion and analysis of various draft websites and mock drafts. These are not rankings of a position, but rather a preview of names projected across all three days of the draft. Analysis by the Panthers editorial staff does not reflect the Panthers football staff and front office

Next up is cornerback.

The Panthers made a big move this offseason, extending Jaycee Horn to what stood as a record-breaking corner contract in the NFL for at least a few days, before Derek Stingley signed his contract with the Texans. The club reunited Horn with Mike Jackson, signing Jackson to a new contract and putting the duo back on the field together one season after they led all corner duo's in the NFL with 30 combined passes defended. Chau Smith-Wade returns after a rookie season where he took over the nickel job, but those plans could change with the signing of safety Tre'von Moehrig.

Travis Hunter — Colorado

There's a serious temptation here to just say, "turn on the tape," and move on to the next. It would be justified. Hunter won the Heisman Trophy as a two-way player. What he plays at the NFL level—receiver or corner—will be up to the team that drafts him, either based on need or how they see Hunter, because he's proven himself more than capable of playing either…or both. As a corner in 2024, he finished with 35 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and four interceptions. Let's move on to the next.

Will Johnson — Michigan

NFL Network scored Johnson as a "boom or bust" prospect whose best comp is Jaycee Horn. It's easy to see how both of those labels are derived from watching Johnson. He set a Michigan record for three interceptions returned for a touchdown. In six games last season he picked up 14 tackles, one for loss, and three pass break-ups before an ankle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He's a zone corner with the capability to trust in man when needed. He's a good size, smooth, and if it weren't for Hunter, he'd have an argument as the best corner in the class.

Darien Porter — Iowa State

Porter is the kind of prospect that a few teams will absolutely become giddy at the chance to take, if for no other reason than to see what is there. Porter spent six years at Iowa State, never making a start at corner until his final season. The first four years (a redshirt year and COVID year), Porter was a receiver. He converted to corner in 2022, learned the position and earned a starting job in seven games in 2024. He finished 18 tackles, two for loss, three interceptions, and two pass break-ups. Porter really shines on special teams. His wingspan measures like an offensive lineman (33 1/8") and it's led to four career blocked punts as a gunner.

Shavon Revel — East Carolina

Revel's first year of college ball was technically in 2020, yet he's played very little actual ball. COVID limited his first two seasons at the small Louisburg College to two games. He played sparingly in 2022 and tore his ACL this past September after only three games. The recovery time is something to consider for teams. In his one full season, 2023, Revel earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors as he led East Carolina with 12 pass break-ups and finished with 55 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1.0 sack, an interceptions and two blocked kicks. There's still a lot of polishing coaches will need to do with Revel's game, but his intangibles, such as being 6-2 194 pounds, with long arms and ability to quickly digest routes, will make him enticing.

Azareye'h Thomas — FSU

Thomas has but one year as a starter, and is leaving college as a true junior, meaning he still has a lot of learning, growing, and football ahead of him. It shows in his game which currently leans on his size 6-1.5 197 pounds, and tenacity to jam receivers on the line by crowding and punching. It's an area that could use some finesse but one a team won't want to snuff out completely. His play recognition in zone still needs some work, something that could easily come with time.

Jason Marshall Jr. — Florida

Marshall is a former 5-star recruit who led the Gators in pass break-ups the two full seasons he started (eight and 10 respectively), and was on track to do so again in 2024 before a shoulder injury sidelined him after seven games. Yet he's projected as a late Day 3 candidate. Marshall has all the intangibles, such as size and athleticism, but has to play with more urgency and want-to if he's going to stay on the field at the next level.

Jacob Parrish — Kansas State

Parrish comes in at 5-10 191 pounds, making him an ideal size for a nickel corner in the league. He has the speed to slide outside when needed, and ran a 4.35 at the combine. He can flip his hips smoothly and plays his best underneath. He led Kansas State with seven pass break-ups in 2024, and finished with 50 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and an interception.

Alijah Huzzie — North Carolina

Huzzie comes from a football family and has six years of college ball under his belt, meaning he's seen most offenses. The Tar Heels primarily had Huzzie lined up as an outside corner, but at 5-10 193 pounds, NFL teams will likely move him inside. He should be fine there, since he threw himself into run support even from the perimeter while at UNC. He led the team with eight pass break-ups in 2024 and finished with 40 tackles, 5.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks and an interception.