2024 felt like two entirely different seasons shoved into one for the Carolina Panthers.
They began the year winning only one game through the first eight weeks of the season, while they won four games and looked drastically improved during the final ten weeks of the year.
They now have some real belief in Bryce Young as their quarterback, and their process in the upcoming offseason and NFL Draft will be intriguing to watch play out. In a new A to Z Sports mock draft, they elect to go best player available and land a blue chip prospect to become a foundational piece on their defense.
Panthers land Michigan star CB Will Johnson in a new 2025 NFL Mock Draft
"Carolina could take the first tackle and then move Ikem Ekwonu to center, but the best overall talent on the board is Will Johnson. Giving Jaycee Horn a playmaking and physical partner is a great outcome for a team that found offensive traction by the end of the year. Now, the focus has to be finding as much high-impact star power as possible."
- New A to Z Sports Mock Draft
There was a time when some questioned whether or not Michigan corner Will Johnson could end up being an option to be the first player drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. That's no longer in the cards, with some more premium positions taking the front row of those discussions. But the fact that he was ever spoken about in that light as a CB tells you how highly Johnson is viewed in the NFL.
This past year didn't go to plan for Johnson or Michigan altogether. Due to his dealing with injuries, he only appeared in six games, which was by far the least of his college career. His coverage skills and instincts at the position are second to none in this class. He will be a day-one starter and a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, no matter where he lands. If that's in Carolina, he would become a foundational piece on their defense as they continue to rebuild and build toward the future.
