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Insider's Mock Draft Implores Carolina Panthers to Add ‘Bell-Cow’ Edge

Getting after opposing quarterbacks continues to be an issue for the Panthers. Dan Morgan could use a first-round pick in April to address this shortcoming.
Russell Baxter|
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) rushes the line past Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Markel Bell (70) during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) rushes the line past Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Markel Bell (70) during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are coming off their first playoff campaign since 2017, winning the NFC South with an 8-9 mark. Quarterback Bryce Young showed a penchant for comebacks, while the defense rebounded from a forgettable 2024.

With the conclusion of the 2025 college football season, Daniel Flick of SI.com put together his 2026 mock NFL draft. An area that continues to be one of need for Carolina is the pass rush. Flick has general manager Dan Morgan opting for a prospect from a familiar venue in Cashius Howell.

“The Panthers tapped into Texas A&M’s well of pass rushers last season," explained Flick, "using a second-round pick on Nic Scourton, who had five sacks in an encouraging rookie campaign. They should consider returning to College Station. Carolina needs to add a bell-cow pass rusher and few more consistently disruptive players, more dominant than Cashius Howell."

"Wiry and undersized at 6' 2" and 249 pounds," added Flick, "Howell may never be an above-average run defender, but he’s a ready-made pass rusher. He’s explosive off the snap, wins around the perimeter and on inside counters, and he has enough power to condense pockets."

Nic Scourton
Nov 16, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton (11) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

All told, those aforementioned five sacks actually had Scourton tying for the team lead in sacks with Derrick Brown. One year earlier, Jadeveon Clowney and A’Shawn Robinson led the way with 5.5 quarterback traps. The Panthers have not had a player finish with double-digit sacks since Brian Burns (12.5) in 2022.

Dating back to 2023, no team in the league has compiled fewer sacks (89) than the Panthers, who have finished with 27, 32, and 30 QB traps, respectively, the past three seasons. Perhaps things may have been different had Jones been able to stay healthy. In any case, after spending second- (Scourton) and third-round selections (Princely Umanmielen) on pass-rushing help in last year’s draft, it certainly couldn’t hurt to look in this direction with the 19th overall pick on April 23.

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Russell Baxter
RUSSELL BAXTER

Russell S. Baxter has been writing and researching the game of football for more than 40 years, and on numerous platforms. That includes television, as he spent more than two decades at ESPN, and was part of shows that garnered five Emmy Awards. He also spent the 2015 NFL season with Thursday Night Football on CBS/NFLN.