Here are 8 NFL Draft prospects Panthers fans should know as bowl season begins

Ask Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales — who has two more games left in his first season as an NFL head coach — and he’ll tell you his mind is far from the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

His exact words Monday:

“Scouts are all over it,” he said. “(General manager) Dan (Morgan) is all over it with his group. The staff and I? We’re all over trying to play the Bucs in Tampa. That’s our focus.”

Still, for the Panthers fans who are deservedly excited for the future of their favorite team, late-December/early-January college football bowl games are a wonderful time to do some way-too-early draft scouting.

The Panthers, sitting at 4-11, are at this moment projected to have the No. 7 pick in the upcoming draft, according to Tankathon. They’re tied with the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears at four wins — and are better than five three-win teams, as well as the New York Giants, who sit at 2-13.

Considering what the Panthers need — a pass rusher, for starters, and maybe some more receiving firepower to unlock quarterback Bryce Young — here are eight prospects Panthers fans should pay attention to as they revel in the college football postseason.

Note: Please keep in mind that this list doesn’t attempt to consider what Carolina may or may not do in free agency, which begins a month ahead of the draft. Also, the Panthers’ draft position has the potential to change considerably after the team’s final two contests.

Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

The 6-foot-3, 252-pound monster is the front-runner for the Panthers’ first-round pick at this way-too-early point in NFL Draft prognostications. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has 63 tackles on the year — 11 of which are sacks — and most recently had two tackles for loss in Penn State’s blowout win over SMU. It’s no secret the Panthers need a long-term plan in the pass-rush unit; it’s also no secret that Carolina needs plug-in reinforcements to help its league-worst run defense. Carter, by all indications, could do both well in the NFL. And immediately.

Penn State next faces the Boise State Broncos in the second round of the College Football Playoff at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Experts have Williams — the 6-5, 265-pound pass rusher with potential out of this world — right around when Carter will be projected, in that 5-10 range depending on team need. The Bulldog has good returns as a run stopper with a good enough motor to make an impact in the pass game, even if parts of his game needs some NFL polishing. The junior’s season stats bear that out: 20 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles.

Georgia next plays the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round of the College Football Playoff at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

Here’s another pass rusher for good measure. Different sources have different outlooks for Stewart — the 6-6, 290-pound defensive end who could be as high as a Top 10 pick and could fall as low to the Kansas City Chiefs with pick No. 32. The junior is fast and versatile and would be a great addition to a Panthers defensive line that desperately needs some help in 2025 — even if Pro Bowler Derrick Brown returns to full form.

Texas A&M takes on Southern California at 10:30 p.m. Friday in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

He’s the last first-rounder on this list — and in full disclosure, he’s an unlikely get for the Panthers unless they lose their final two contests and Johnson falls to them. The 6-2, 202-pound defensive back is the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the draft, behind CB/WR Travis Hunter out of Colorado. He has two interceptions on the season, and his size matches what GM Morgan and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero have looked for in defensive backs in the past — he’s not all that dissimilar from the profile of Jaycee Horn, who’s having a stellar year.

Michigan plays Alabama at 12 p.m. Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon

Let’s dip into some second-day draft prospects while we’re here, starting with Stewart. The 6-foot, 175-pound receiver has had a great year at Oregon, entering bowl season with 48 catches for 613 yards and five touchdowns. He’s considered the seventh-to-ninth best receiver in this year’s draft with his speed being his greatest weapon. Again, the Panthers might address their need for an explosive receiver in free agency before the draft — but they’ll need to address it at some point, what with 2023 draft pick Jonathan Mingo and splashy free agent Diontae Johnson not working out in Carolina.

Oregon faces Ohio State at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Rose Bowl — the second round of the College Football Playoff.

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Ayomanor has a similar draft outlook to Evan Stewart. And thus the Panthers might get a chance at him in the second or third rounds of the draft. The 6-2, 210-pound receiver is intriguing to not only for his production at Stanford — he notched a 1,000-yard season in 2023 and 831 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 — but also his separation skills and his big-catch ability.

Stanford didn’t end up being bowl eligible. But to tide you over, here’s a glimpse of Ayomanor’s 2024 season — which includes a one-handed catch that rivals Odell Beckham Jr.

Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M

I can guess your thought: Another defensive lineman prospect out of Texas A&M? Even after the Panthers already drafted one last year in Jaden Crumedy?! My response: High-level DL talent shouldn’t be overlooked — and depending on how the Panthers’ draft positioning shakes out, Turner could be a real second-round option. The 6-4, 300-pound bruiser has 36 tackles and two sacks on the year, and one of his biggest virtues is his versatility — something that could come in handy as the Panthers have experimented with different defensive fronts down the stretch of the 2024 season.

The Aggies, as aforementioned, take on Southern California at 10:30 p.m. Friday in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State

Here’s a Day 2 option at the pass rusher spot who could make an immediate impact should the Panthers not take an EDGE rusher in the first round. The 6-4, 265-pound Buckeye has 46 tackles and one interception on the year. If the Panthers opt to not take a pass rusher in the first round — and if Sawyer falls to the Panthers’ mid-50s second-round spot (via the Los Angeles Rams) — then Sawyer would be a compelling option, considering his adequate size and physicality against the run.

Ohio State faces Oregon at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Rose Bowl — the second round of the College Football Playoff.