Lo'S MOCK DRAFT
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12-2025

  • Lo DRAFTING FOR THE
    Panthers
Draft Selections
James Pearce Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 8 RND: 1 (CAR)
James Pearce Jr.
DE-EDGE Tennessee
Nick Emmanwori Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (CAR)
Nick Emmanwori
S South Carolina
Jalen Royals Head Shot
PICK: 74 RND: 3 (CAR)
Jalen Royals
WR Utah State
Demetrius Knight Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 110 RND: 4 (CAR)
Demetrius Knight Jr.
LB South Carolina
Barrett Carter Head Shot
PICK: 113 RND: 4 (CAR)
Barrett Carter
LB Clemson
Jared Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 141 RND: 5 (CAR)
Jared Wilson
C Georgia
Kyren Lacy Head Shot
PICK: 147 RND: 5 (CAR)
Kyren Lacy
WR LSU
Jonah Monheim Head Shot
PICK: 164 RND: 5 (CAR)
Jonah Monheim
C USC
Ryan Fitzgerald Head Shot
PICK: 229 RND: 7 (CAR)
Ryan Fitzgerald
PK Florida State
Draft Grade — Panthers
Overall B
ValueB+ NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
Grand theft in the 229th pick: the Panthers steal Fitzgerald and grade out a B.

When a board-topper like Ryan Fitzgerald slides to pick 229, you do not overthink it, and the Panthers did not.

The cornerback spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. They went 5 of 9 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.

Bottom line, more hits than misses and a roster nudged the right way.

Pick Analysis
Pick8 Rnd1 James Pearce Jr.
In the 8th overall pick they get a disruptor off the edge. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick57 Rnd2 Nick Emmanwori
Nick Emmanwori at slot 57 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick74 Rnd3 Jalen Royals
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Jalen Royals at No. 74 is the proof. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick110 Rnd4 Demetrius Knight Jr.
Steal is underselling it; Demetrius Knight Jr. at the Round 4 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick113 Rnd4 Barrett Carter
Barrett Carter in pick No. 113 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick141 Rnd5 Jared Wilson
Jared Wilson at the 141st pick is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It fills a real need, too.
Pick147 Rnd5 Kyren Lacy
They barely believed it either: Kyren Lacy still on the board at pick 147. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick164 Rnd5 Jonah Monheim
Jonah Monheim slipping to Round 5, Pick 27 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick229 Rnd7 Ryan Fitzgerald
A specialist of that caliber at pick 229 is the definition of value, full stop. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.