Panthers trade for top WR prospect in ESPN’s early 2025 NFL mock draft

A bumpy 2025 campaign may be worth the time for the Carolina Panthers.

ESPN NFL draft analyst and insider Matt Miller published his early first-round projections for the 2025 draft on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they’re forecasted to secure the second-worst record on the year—giving them the No. 2 overall pick of the event.

But Miller makes the most out of the compensation, trading Carolina down to the eighth selection on the board for University of Missouri receiver Luther Burden III:

In this scenario, the Panthers are able to move back and still land a playmaker, continuing to focus on building an offensive support system around Bryce Young after investing in guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt this offseason. Burden is the most explosive player in college football — he averaged 14.1 yards per catch and had 1,212 yards on 86 receptions last season — and brings a Deebo Samuel-like ability to make defenders miss post-catch. And he does it with legitimate 4.3 speed. Pairing Burden with Diontae Johnson and 2024 second-rounder Xavier Legette would give Young the type of wideouts he needs to excel.

Burden is currently regarded as the top wideout prospect in the upcoming class. The dynamic 5-foot-11, 208-pounder amassed 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns en route to a First-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

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