Kassidy Hill

CHARLOTTE The 2025 NFL draft is now less than a month away. Teams are updating their big board every day, welcoming in prospects for visits, and evaluating their current rosters every minute of every day. Only a select few in each building know what a club might due when the first round quicks off on April 24 in Green Bay, but between now and then, we will take a look at different positions of need for the Carolina Panthers, and how they might be addressed in the upcoming draft.

The Panthers currently have nine picks:

• Rd. 1, No. 8 overall
• Rd. 2, No 57 overall (from Rams)
• Rd. 3, No. 74 overall
• Rd. 4, No. 111 overall
• Rd. 4, No. 114 overall (from Cowboys)
• Rd. 5, No. 140 overall (from Giants)
• Rd. 5, No. 146 overall
• Rd. 5, No. 163 overall (from Ravens)
• Rd. 7, No. 230 overall (from Cardinals)

Position previews are an aggregation from the opinion and analysis of various draft websites and mock drafts. These are not rankings of a position, but rather a preview of names projected across all three days of the draft. Analysis by the Panthers editorial staff does not reflect the Panthers football staff and front office

Next up is interior offensive line.

The Panthers found a chemistry that worked with their offensive line last season and didn't want to mess with a good thing. The club brought back centersAustin CorbettandCade Maysto join guardsRobert HuntandDamien Lewison the interior line, and they brought back versatile backupBrady Christensen. The group paved the way forChuba Hubbardto pick up over 1,000 yards last season, and keptBryce Youngupright.

Tyler Booker Alabama (G)

Widely regarded as the top guard in this years draft class, Booker brings the size and athleticism to put him on the field right away. He knocked out to left tackle for a game, showing his versatility, but it was the interior where he really shined. He's 6-5 321 pounds and had 87 knockdown blocks in his final season, which earned him second-team All-American honors.

Jared Wilson Georgia (C)

The top ranked center in this year's draft, Wilson's projection is based largely on promise. He's had just one year of starting play under his belt, so there is some development still in play. But he's got decent size at 6-3 310 pounds and extremely agile and fast. His 40-time of 4.84 seconds was in the 99th percentile of his position. The Winston-Salem, N.C. native has promise as a draft-and-develop player.

Tate Ratledge Georgia (G)

Ratledge was part of a Georgia offensive line in 2023 that allowed the seventh-fewest sacks allowed in college football. He missed four games in 2024 with an ankle injury, but was able to return by the end of the season. His biggest strength is as a pass-blocker, thanks to his ability to maintain blocks against defenders.

Willie Lampkin North Carolina (G)

Lampkin is an interesting prospect. He's extremely athletic, and has all the traits from footwork and hand fighting that come from his background as a state-champion wrestler. He has played every position along the interior offensive line, and was a big part of Omarion Hampton's back-to-back 1,500-plus yard seasons. But Lampkin lacks the size often associated with playing lineman at the NFL level. He's 5-10 and 270 pounds. As Lance Zierlein of NFL Network posted, he could be an ideal candidate to convert to a fullback.

Seth McLaughlin Ohio State (C)

McLaughlin began his career at Alabama where he was a starter for two seasons. After some snapping issues and backlash, he transferred to Ohio State for his final season, where he made a huge turnaround. By the end of the 2024 season, McLaughlin had won the Remington Trophy as college football's best center, despite missing six games with a torn Achilles. He is still coming back from that injury, something teams will have to consider relative to need versus depth.

Connor Colby Iowa (G)

Colby earned a starting role as a freshman at Iowa and never let it go. He displayed his versatility, starting at right tackle, left guard, and right guard during his time, but the latter was his best positioning. He might not have the ease of movement and power as other prospects, but with 50-career starts, he has experience that will pay off.

Dylan Fairchild Georgia (G)

Georgia knows how to identify and churn out NFL talent, which is why a third Bulldog is showing up on this preview. Fairchild brings a background as a wrestler, something he uses to win blocks, particularly in pass protection. He still has strides to make in the run blocking game as he gets more snaps under his belt.

Miles Frazier LSU (G)

Frazier is both tested and proven. He played a team-high 902 offensive snaps as a senior and allow a single sack all years. This came after giving up only one in 2023 according to Pro Football Focus. His footwork can hurt when trying to move laterally, but pass-protection ability is worth taking note of.