Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Should Panthers trade up for Abdul Carter?

By Evan Bachman | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 10:11 AM ET

The Carolina Panthers have shown a strong commitment toward rebuilding a defense that finished dead last in the NFL in points and yards last season with their moves so far this offseason.

Making additions along the defensive line has been a big area of focus, as they signed Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown and Pat Jones in free agency. It's also a strong bet that they'll be looking to add to the unit in the draft.

An idea for the Panthers to make an aggressive move to fill out the unit has been floated in recent mock drafts by Underdog Sports' Hayden Winks and in a collaboration mock draft video between NFL Stock Exchange and Bootleg Football.

That idea is for Carolina to make a massive splash on draft night by trading up for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Both mock drafts project the Panthers to move from eighth to third overall in a trade with the Giants to secure Carter.

This is a very exciting proposition and there are a lot of reasons why Carolina should consider it.

Despite the recent additions, Carolina still has a need for another edge rusher to complement Jadeveon Clowney and Pat Jones. The addition of a high-level pass rusher like Carter would be a game-changer for the unit.

2 minutes of Abdul Carter terrorizing offenses on All-22 to the 2nd greatest song of all-time:

• A rare breed of athleticism, versatility, and skill. A future DPOY winner in the NFL.

Hope You Enjoy… pic.twitter.com/wOR8IOQc1C
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) March 22, 2025

The unanimous All-American was a dominant force for the Nittany Lions as his elite combination of first-step explosiveness and bend are a handful for any offensive tackle to handle.

Carter is among the very best prospects in the 2025 class in the eyes of many draft analysts for those elite traits along with outstanding production last season.

In Carter's first season playing full-time as an edge rusher, he recorded 12 sacks. His impact went well beyond the box score as well, as he was able to consistently generate pressure and disrupt opposing offenses.

He is a great example of a high-floor, high-ceiling type of prospect as his pass rush production projects to translate very early in his NFL career while having the tools to develop into an All-Pro level player.

The idea is reminiscent of the Houston Texans moving from No. 12 to No. 3 to select DE Will Anderson Jr. in 2023. In addition to the No. 12 pick, Houston gave up pick No. 33 in that draft as well as first-and-third-round selections in the 2024 draft. Anderson, in his first two seasons in the NFL, has accumulated 18 sacks while winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and making a Pro Bowl.

Such a move comes with a significant price tag, so it's understandable if Carolina decides not to pull the trigger. However, with Carter being a blue-chip level prospect that could be a game changer out of the gate, it's something that the Panthers should strongly consider.

Evan Bachman

Evan Bachman is a freelance sports writer from Ohio. He is a big football fan with a passion for the NFL Draft. Evan has experience covering the NFL, NFL Draft, and Ohio State Football.

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