NFL insider drops accurate one-word verdict on Panthers' 2025 draft class

How did the Panthers do? Bleacher Report thinks pretty well.

Sep 14, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) looks toward the sideline against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers, in the opinion of most NFL analysts and draft experts, did pretty well at the 2025 NFL draft. They added key players at positions of need and added a lot of depth to areas they lacked in 2024. They're still far from a complete, well-rounded roster, but this seems to have been a step in the right direction.

One NFL insider set out to describe every team's draft class with just a single word. Some were confusing or downright awful, but the Panthers, for once, don't have that problem. Therefore, the analyst could only be positive.

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan after he is selected by the Carolina Panthers as the number eight pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The word Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon used was "optimal." The NFL insider added, "They left nothing on the table with high-value picks that addressed clear needs in both Round 1 (Tetairoa McMillan) and Round 2 (Nic Scourton) before backfilling depth the rest of the way. This is exactly how you progres in a smart rebuild."

That doesn't even specifically mention getting Princely Umanmielen in the third round and Lathan Ransom in the fourth round. The Panthers also added a potential return man and a massive, space-eating defensive tackle later on as well.

Pretty much every pick (perhaps except for Trevor Etienne) will go a long way this year. Optimal is an accurate word because even after an all-out push in free agency, the Panthers still had numerous holes to address.

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