NFL insider names 'explosive' third-rounder favorite pick by Panthers

Defense was the theme for the Carolina Panthers 2025 offseason.

Its what general manager Dan Morgan stressed during free agency.

He also used half of what proved to be eight selections in the NFL draft to bolster this side of the ball.

The Athletic NFL Staff listed their favorite draft pick for each of the 32 clubs.

Writer Joseph Person chimed in with his selection, opting for Ole Miss edge-rusher Princely Umanmielen , who finished with 10.5 sacks in his final season with the Rebels.

As a longtime tight end fan, explained Person, Im tempted to go with fifth-round pick Mitchell Evansthe Notre Dame tight end who gives off strong Mark Bavaro vibes (aging myself here).

But Ill go with Umanmielen, who has the same type of speed and bend that made Brian Burns an explosive pass rusher with the Panthers.

Like Burns, Umanmielen might be a little light to hold up against the run.

He could be a game-changer in a division that will include a couple of new starting quarterbacks in Atlanta and New Orleans.

In the second round, Morgan also went pass-rusher and grabbed Texas A&Ms Nic Scourton .

These two rookies, along with the free-agent addition of Patrick Jones II, could give Ejiro Everos defense some much-needed oomph when it comes to chasing down opposing quarterbacks.

Its worth recalling that the Panthers allowed the most total yards and most rushing yards in the league this past season.

Everos unit also finished with a mere 32 sacks, tied for the third-fewest QB sacks in the NFL.

Thats off a 2023 showing in which Carolina totaled an NFL-low 27 sacks.

This past season, veterans Jadeveon Clowney and AShawn Robinson tied for the club lead with a paltry 5.5 sacks.

Umanmielen, Scourton, and Jones could spearhead a new-look and effective pass rush.

- Enjoy more free Panthers coverage with Carolina Panthers on SI - Carolina Panthers in familiar territory in post 2025 NFL draft power rankings Analytics point to the Panthers 2025 draft class as one of the NFLs best Panthers may have landed NFL draft's biggest steal no one is talking about Carolina Panthers had offers from at least 2 teams to trade up in Round 1.

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