Stuck at the Top? Exploring Panthers’ Options Without a Trade-Back in 2025 NFL Draft

With the 2025 NFL Draft just over a week away, the Carolina Panthers are firmly in the spotlight, holding the coveted No. 8 overall pick. Naturally, fans are buzzing with anticipation, wondering what the team’s next move will be. While there’s been plenty of chatter about Carolina trading back to accumulate more picks, a real question looms: What happens if that trade opportunity doesn’t materialize?

In this week’s Panthers Mailbag, a fan asked a timely question: “What should the Panthers do if they’re stuck at No. 8 and can’t trade back?” It’s a scenario the front office must be prepared for, especially in a draft class full of positional depth but no clear-cut consensus beyond the top handful of prospects.

The conventional wisdom is to “take the best player available,” but that phrase means more than just picking a name off the top of a draft board. Organizational philosophy and positional value play a massive role. The Panthers, for example, are not in the market for a quarterback at No. 8. That narrows the focus to premium positions like edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle.

Among those, edge rusher and wide receiver stand out as immediate needs. With a revamped defense under new leadership and an offense still searching for consistent playmakers, either of these picks could make an instant impact in 2025. Wide receiver, in particular, offers some electrifying talent near the top of the board—players who could give Bryce Young the support he’s lacked in his early development.

Meanwhile, positions like cornerback and offensive tackle are more about long-term planning. With contract decisions looming for veterans like Mike Jackson, Ikem Ekwonu, and Taylor Moton, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Carolina invest early in protecting its franchise quarterback—or strengthening a secondary that needs depth and youth.

Then there’s defensive tackle, a position Carolina has historically prioritized regardless of need. Despite some intriguing additions in free agency, the defensive front still needs help to shake off the stink of last year’s historically bad scoring defense.

So if no trade partner comes calling, expect the Panthers to stay strategic. At No. 8, they’ll have a real shot at a difference-maker—someone who can contribute now and grow into a cornerstone of this new era in Carolina.