1 week Ago By Panthers Wire
The Carolina Panthers will have at least a handful of intriguing players to chose from with the eighth overall selection of the 2025 NFL draft. But what if they don't actually chose with it?President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan raised the prospect of some movement back at the scouting combine in Indianapolis."I think we feel good about the position we're in at eight," Morgan told reporters in February.
"Obviously, we don't wanna draft that high because that means that, you know, you had a [crappy] season. But yeah, I think it's a good spot to be in. I think there'll be a really good player there for us.
Either way, we're gonna be prepared for any scenario."I don't see us trading up. I do see the potential of us trading back and picking up more picks.
That's always a possibility. But we're gonna play all the different scenarios and we're gonna be ready when the time comes."Well, what if the Panthers want to trade down from that pick when the time comes? After all, Morgan started his front office career with the Seattle Seahawks under general manager John Schneider, who has traded down off his team's original first-round position in six of his 14 drafts.
Plus, this particular class, according to multiple insiders and evaluators, feels particularly low on blue-chip talent. After the draft's top three or four guys, big boards across the league seem likely to drop off and vary—perhaps making a deal for additional capital more appealing than sticking and picking.So, with that possibility in mind, let's pinpoint six potential trade-down partners for Carolina and 2025's eighth overall pick .
. .Chicago BearsCurrent position: No.
10 overallTeam needs: RB, OT, DL, EDGECarolina might be able to do a bit of repeat business with their old partners from that massive 2023 trade.The Bears, with first-year head coach Ben Johnson, are still in the market for a dynamic running back. If they want the draft's top rusher in Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, they may have to hop over the New Orleans Saints (ninth overall) to do so.
They could also use some firepower in their front seven with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and, despite the additions they made to their offensive line this offseason, might find a long-term solution at left tackle if an Armand Membou or a Will Campbell is still available.Possible trade: Chicago receives No. 8 and No.
111 in exchange for No. 10 and No. 72Potential best available players for Carolina: WR Tetairoa McMillan, TE Tyler Warren, EDGE Mykel Williams, EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, CB Will JohnsonDallas CowboysCurrent position: 12th overallTeam needs: RB, WR, DL, DBCowboys owner Jerry Jones may have lost his fastball, as his front office has been taking a more conservative approach to the draft.
Dallas has traded down from their original first-round position in two of the last four years, so maybe they're not interested in a jump.But if the likes of Jeanty, Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan or Michigan cornerback Will Johnson are sitting there at Pick No. 8, Jones and company may feel inclined to swoop in on a potential star.
Possible trade: Dallas receives No. 8 in exchange for No. 12 and No.
74Potential best available players for Carolina: TE Tyler Warren, EDGE Mykel Williams, EDGE Mike Green, CB Jahdae Barron, S Malaki StarksMiami DolphinsCurrent position: 13th overallTeam needs: OT, DL, DBLike Chicago, Miami might be trying to lock down a starting left tackle for the future. And that task is especially urgent for the Dolphins following the recent retirement of Terron Armstead.Interior defensive linemen (Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen) and defensive backs (Johnson, Jahdae Barron, Malaki Starks) should be in play as well.
Possible trade: Miami receives No. 8 and No. 74 in exchange for No.
13, No. 48 and No. 150Potential best available players for Carolina: TE Tyler Warren, EDGE Mykel Williams, EDGE Mike Green, CB Jahdae Barron, S Malaki StarksIndianapolis ColtsCurrent position: 14th overallTeam needs: TE, DL, DBThe Colts reportedly tried to trade up in last year's draft, when wideouts Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze and tight end Brock Bowers were still on the board.
Will they take another shot at securing a pass catcher?Indianapolis is hoping to get 2023 fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson on track. And with a glaring need at the tight end position, Penn State star Tyler Warren could be worth moving in on.Possible trade: Indianapolis receives No.
8 and No. 74 in exchange for No. 14, No.
45 and No. 117Potential best available players for Carolina: WR Matthew Golden, EDGE Mykel Williams, EDGE Mike Green, CB Jahdae Barron, S Malaki StarksCincinnati BengalsCurrent position: 17th overallTeam needs: OL, EDGE, DLOkay, this one is somewhat out of the box, and would feature the 2024's leading sack artist.If the Bengals cannot come to terms on a new deal with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, perhaps he's on the table.
Could Carolina get creative and add (and also pay) the 30-year-old All-Pro to improve their feeble pass rush?Possible trade: Cincinnati receives No. 8, No. 74 and No.
111 in exchange for Trey Hendrickson, No. 17 and No. 153Potential best available players for Carolina: WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland, DL Walter Nolen, S Malaki Starks, S Nick EmmanworiPittsburgh SteelersCurrent position: 21st overallTeam needs: QB, RB, DLThis partner is also contingent on a particular player—University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
With 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers still taking his sweet time on a deal, the Steelers currently don't have an answer under center. This would be a pretty sizable leap for a pretty polarizing prospect, but Pittsburgh could surprise us.Possible trade: Pittsburgh receives No.
8 in exchange for No. 21 and a 2026 first-round pickPotential best available players for Carolina: WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland, DL Walter Nolen, LB Jihaad Campbell, S Nick EmmanworiFollow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: 6 potential trade partners for the Carolina Panthers.
