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

Last up are edge rushers.

The Panthers got D.J. Wonnum on the field at the mid-way point last season and saw their defense start to open up more alongside Jadeveon Clowney. In free agency, the club added Patrick Jones II from the Vikings. It's a unit that still needs an influx of production though, and has a chance to strike gold in several places this draft. The edge rusher class is packed with a bevy of first-round talent.

Abdul Carter — Penn State

Carter stood at the podium during the combine and confidently told reporters, "I feel like I'm the best player in the country and the best player should be selected No. 1." That might not be hyperbole. Carter wore the iconic No. 11 at Penn State, given only to the best. A former off-ball linebacker, Penn State moved him to edge ahead of last season and it proved genius. Carter finished with 68 tackles, including 23.5 for loss which led all of the FBS. He was seventh in college football with 12.0 sacks and added two forced fumbles. His short time as a pass rusher means he still needs to add to his toolbox of moves and rely less solely on his athleticism, but all the traits are there.

Jalon Walker — Georgia

The son of a college coach, Walker has the intelligence and knowledge that comes from years of being around the game. Depending on who you ask, Walker could be an outside linebacker, inside linebacker, or primary an edge rusher. His versatility plus his size, 6-1 243 pounds, made him a hybrid at the college level, but could classify him as a tweener in the NFL. Some teams will want to put Walker into one position and keep him there, but if you trust his size in a scheme, his football IQ allows him to roam and dominate. His time at Georgia turned him into a ready-made locker room leader as well.

Donovan Ezeiruaku — Boston College

Ezeiruaku is in the bottom 16th percentile for both height and weight, making him undersized, but he's fast with a long wingspan, a combination he uses to find and exploit every small advantage and more. It's a game plan that led to 16.5 sacks, second most in the FBS, and 20.5 tackles for loss, third in college football. He finished with 80 tackles and a pass break-up, plus two forced fumbles as well. The first-tam All-American won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nations top defensive end.

Mykel Williams — Georgia

Another year, another pair of first-round prospects out of Georgia; this time Williams rounds out the duo, following a blueprint that has worked well for Bulldogs heading to the NFL in recent years. That blueprint would be having all of the innate talent and athleticism, but still needing more experience at time. Thus is the plight of those who play on Georgia's stacked defense, sharing snaps with other five-stars. Williams is big, at 6-5 and 260 pounds, with a wingspan that knocks on 35 inches (34 3/8"). He can play with a hand in the ground or standing up and possess a bull rush that tears up offensive lines. He finished with 21 tackles, 8.5 for loss, with 5.0 sacks and a pass break-up. Played through an ankle injury suffered in the season opener.

James Pearce Jr. — Tennessee

Pearce led the Vols two years in a row in tackles for loss, with 14.5 and 13.0 respectfully. The first-team All-SEC pass rusher also had 17.5 sacks the last two years. He's explosive and converts speed-to-power in a textbook way. But some off the field issues, including being arrested in December of 2023 for disobeying police orders when pulled over for speeding, will give some teams pause.

Shemar Stewart — Texas A&M

Stewart's numbers tell the story of this prospect, for better and for worse. His measurables at the combine were insane, placing him in the 91 percentile or higher in every major category and causing his RAS (Relative Athletic Score) to set records. But his production numbers, particularly sacks, also highlight a college career that produced a mere 4.5 sacks for the entire three years. It's hard to determine exactly what has kept Stewart from producing at a high level, but refining his tactics could help tremendously. If a coach gets a hold of the granite and begins to mold, the possibilities are endless.

Mike Green — Marshall

Green had just one year as a starter at the college level, after a reserve year at Virginia and sitting out 2022, then just one start in 2023 at Marshall. But he used every bit of his starting time in 2024 to make an impression. Green led the FBS with 17 sacks, and ranked second in college football with 22.5 tackles for loss. He led the Green Wave with three forced fumbles and 84 tackles and two pass break-ups. There are two assault allegations in Green's past to contend with; he has denied them both.

Nic Scourton — Texas A&M

After two years at Purdue, picking up good experience, Scourton transferred to Texas A&M for his final season, joining a loaded front where he still managed to make a mark, including leading the team with 14 tackles for loss. He also had 5.0 sacks, two pass break-ups, a forced fumble, and 37 tackles total. Scourton still has plenty of room to grow, but has a toolbox of moves and an upward trajectory.