South Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers, preparing for the new NFL era, are set to kick off the draft on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With the 8th overall pick, analysts and fans eagerly anticipate their choice, amidst Panthers’ nine total selections, including eight within the first five rounds.

Pro Football Focus' lead draft analyst, Trevor Sikkema, joined Charlotte to assess potential recruits, notably for the edge rusher, wide receiver, and cornerback positions. Sikkema evaluated industry mock drafts to discern the top choices from picks 1-7 and provided his prediction for the Panthers at their 8th slot.

Initially favoring Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart post-NFL combine, Sikkema revised his choice to Arizona Wildcats receiver Tetairoa McMillian by April. "I would go with the offensive player, because when I look at this wide receiver and just overall receiving group—because you could throw tight ends in there as well in Ja'Tavion Sanders who I still like a good amount and Tommy Tremble who they brought back—if you look at the receivers, it's solid," expressed Sikkema.

Summering McMillian’s credentials, Sikkema noted his potential synergy with existing players: "If you throw Tetairoa McMillian in there, what an incredible compliment I think he is to the wide receivers they already have and it allows Dave Canales to really orchestrate the offense in a lot of ways that they want." Standing tall at 6-5, McMillian achieved back-to-back seasons of over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2024 alone, he managed 16 plays exceeding 25 yards.

While the Panthers signaled defensive improvements as significant, Sikkema emphasized that their free agency moves provide strategic offensive flexibility. He stated, "So to me, you want to make sure that even though you want the defensive side of the ball to be better, what you did in free agency allows you the flexibility to make this pick.”

The Panthers aim to enhance quarterback Bryce Young's performance with supportive personnel, a cornerstone of their current strategy. Sikkema will continue to dissect these potential picks and position strategies with the Panthers community through various platforms.

Tune into Panthers.com and YouTube for continuous draft insights and position breakdowns.