The statement by an NFL insider claiming that the Carolina Panthers will have one of the bottom-five rosters in the league after the 2025 NFL Draft has sparked a lot of discussion among fans and analysts alike. To fully explore this claim, we need to take a comprehensive look at the Panthers’ roster construction, their recent drafts, and how their team could potentially shape up after the 2025 draft class is integrated into the mix.
To understand whether the claim about the Panthers’ roster is accurate, we must first examine where the team stands today, especially after the 2024 season and the ongoing developments in the offseason.
The Carolina Panthers have been in a rebuild phase for several years now. After a series of disappointing seasons, the team parted ways with long-time head coach Ron Rivera in 2019, signaling the start of a new era. Since then, they’ve gone through a few coaching changes, including the hiring of Matt Rhule, who struggled to bring success to the franchise. Rhule’s tenure ended after a 1-4 start to the 2022 season, and the team hired Frank Reich as the new head coach in 2023.
Despite the coaching changes and personnel turnover, the Panthers have continued to struggle to put together a consistent and competitive roster. They’ve drafted young talent, but with limited success in free agency and trades, the overall result has been a team that’s stuck in the middle of the league. The franchise has been searching for the right quarterback, a crucial piece for any team, and this search continued heading into the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Panthers’ struggles at the quarterback position have been well-documented. After trading up to secure the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they selected Bryce Young, the consensus top quarterback in that draft class. Expectations were high, but the transition to the NFL has been challenging for Young, as it is for most rookie quarterbacks. While there are still reasons to be optimistic about his future, it’s undeniable that the team will need to provide him with better talent around him to reach his full potential.
As of the 2025 NFL Draft, the hope is that Young will have a year or two of development and experience under his belt, but the reality is that he may still need significant improvement before the team can realistically contend for the playoffs.
On offense, the Panthers have some promising young talent but still lack the star power to contend at a high level. Wide receivers like DJ Moore, who was traded to the Chicago Bears in 2023, and Terrace Marshall Jr., the team’s second-round pick from 2021, have shown flashes of potential, but they have not yet become consistent game-changers. Additionally, the running back position has been in flux, with the Panthers struggling to find a true workhorse back since the departure of Christian McCaffrey in 2022.
In terms of offensive line play, the Panthers have made some attempts to address the position, but it remains an area of weakness. The offensive line will be critical for Bryce Young’s development, as he’ll need better protection to succeed at the NFL level. In 2025, we’ll likely see more of the same in terms of the offensive line’s struggles if significant changes aren’t made.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers have a bit more promise. Players like linebacker Brian Burns, cornerback Jaycee Horn, and safety Jeremy Chinn have been standout performers. Burns is one of the league’s top pass rushers, and Horn has the potential to be a top-tier cornerback when healthy. However, like their offense, the Panthers’ defense lacks depth, and the team’s inability to address critical positions in the draft and free agency has hindered their ability to compete consistently.
In short, the Panthers have talent on both sides of the ball, but they lack enough top-tier playmakers to seriously compete in the NFC.
To assess whether the Panthers will have one of the bottom-five rosters in the league after the 2025 NFL Draft, we need to look at the team’s draft history and the potential impact of the 2025 draft class.
General Manager Scott Fitterer, who was hired in 2021, has overseen the team’s draft strategy. While the Panthers have made some notable selections—such as acquiring the likes of Jaycee Horn, Ikem Ekwonu, and Bryce Young—their draft classes have not yet yielded the kind of results expected from a team in a rebuilding phase. While the 2023 draft saw the selection of Bryce Young and a few key contributors, the Panthers have failed to build a full roster of future stars.
In the 2025 draft, Fitterer and Reich will be under significant pressure to not only hit on first-round picks but to find contributors in the later rounds as well. The franchise cannot afford to miss on young talent, especially with the team still in the early stages of a rebuild.
The 2025 NFL Draft is an important one for the Panthers, as they are still in the midst of rebuilding. The roster is far from complete, and although Bryce Young offers hope for the future, it’s clear that other positions need attention. This draft is pivotal for acquiring both immediate contributors and future cornerstones to accelerate the team’s trajectory.
The Panthers’ most pressing needs going into the 2025 draft likely include:
- Wide Receiver: As mentioned earlier, the team lacks a true game-breaking wide receiver. While players like Terrace Marshall Jr. and Adam Thielen may contribute, none of them are elite. The Panthers need to find a true number-one wide receiver to complement Bryce Young and provide him with a reliable target.
- Offensive Line: The offensive line remains a major point of weakness, particularly on the interior. The Panthers must continue to invest in improving this unit, both through the draft and free agency, to give their young quarterback a chance to develop.
- Defensive Line: While Brian Burns provides a great edge rusher, the interior defensive line is an area where the Panthers need to find depth and talent. If the team is going to improve on defense and continue its progress, finding a disruptive defensive tackle or two would be critical.
- Linebacker: Though the Panthers have some strong players in the linebacking corps, they could still use additional depth at this position. A star linebacker or an impactful rotational piece could help solidify the defense.
- Safety: Safety could also be a need if the Panthers don’t see the development they expect from players like Jeremy Chinn. Depth in the secondary will be important to solidify this defense for the future.
Given the weaknesses in the roster and the gaps that still need to be filled, the Panthers will likely be looking at a draft class in 2025 that has to be excellent in terms of finding high-impact players who can contribute right away. If the Panthers are able to hit on these picks, they could begin to turn the corner in their rebuild. However, if they fail to address these needs effectively, the team could find itself stuck in mediocrity for several more years.
While the 2025 NFL Draft offers hope, the Panthers face numerous challenges that could hinder their efforts to rebuild into a contender. Let’s explore some of the key risks and concerns for the team’s future.
One of the key concerns with the Panthers’ future success is the stability of their coaching staff. Since firing Ron Rivera, the franchise has seen a revolving door of head coaches, and stability is crucial for a long-term rebuild. While Frank Reich is a respected coach, his early years with the Panthers have been filled with ups and downs. The franchise needs continuity in both coaching and front-office leadership to build a successful program.
The Panthers will also face challenges in terms of player development. Bryce Young’s progression will be vital to the team’s success, but it’s not just about the quarterback. The Panthers need to see significant growth from other young players such as Ikem Ekwonu, DJ Chark, and even defensive players like Horn and Chinn. If the young players don’t develop as expected, the team could struggle to improve.
The NFC South, once a relatively weak division, has seen improvements from other teams. The New Orleans Saints remain a competitive force, and the Atlanta Falcons are on the rise with a solid roster. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while in flux after Tom Brady’s departure, could still be competitive with the right moves. As a result, the Panthers will face strong division rivals, making it harder for them to break through into playoff contention in the near future.
The Panthers’ financial situation is another important factor. With the salary cap always in flux, the Panthers will need to make smart moves in free agency to complement their draft picks. If the team spends too much on short-term solutions and doesn’t build the right depth, it could be stuck with an unbalanced roster.
While the claim by the NFL insider that the Panthers will have a bottom-five roster after the 2025 NFL Draft might seem extreme, it’s not without merit. The team’s current state, coupled with the challenges they face in rebuilding, puts them in a difficult position. However, it’s important to remember that the draft can offer immediate hope, especially if they nail their selections in the 2025 class.
The Panthers have some key pieces in place, like Bryce Young and Brian Burns, but they still have significant holes to fill. Whether they can build a competitive roster or continue to languish in mediocrity will largely depend on how well they address these gaps, both in the draft and free agency.
If the Panthers’ front office can make the right moves, they might surprise people and avoid being a bottom-five team. But if their efforts fall short, they could indeed find themselves in that position. Time will tell how the 2025 draft unfolds, but for now, the Panthers remain a team in the midst of rebuilding and facing a lot of uncertainty.
