Panthers Interested In OLB Mykel Williams?

The Panthers have not done much to add along the edge so far this offseason. Patrick Jones represents the only free agent signing so far, and while further moves could be coming the draft looms as a means of making a long-term investment.

Carolina owns the No. 8 pick in next month’s draft, and the flashes shown by second-year quarterback Bryce Young and the team’s offense at the end of last season led the team to focus on defensive additions earlier this month. Deals for the likes of safety Tre’von Moehrig along with defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown should help the Panthers improve the league’s worst total and scoring defense from 2024.

With little having taken place on the open market regarding the edge rush group, the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum will remain key figures in that regard. Jones – who notched a career-high seven sacks last season – will also be counted on to improve Carolina’s 32 sacks from 2024. A number of options will be on the board when the Panthers use their first selection in the draft, though.

With that in mind, Joe Person of The Athletic writes Carolina has a “real interest” in Mykel Williams (subscription required). The Georgia product is one of several edge rushers viewed as strong candidates to be selected in the first round, and he will be among the top options left when Abdul Carter hears his name called (which will no doubt happen before the Panthers are on the clock barring a trade up the order). Williams is among the prospects likely to be considered at No. 8, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda adds.

A former five-star recruit, Williams’ size (6-5, 260 pounds) and athleticism give him some of the highest upside amongst edge rushers in the 2025 class. He posted 4.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, but a lingering ankle injury limited his production in 2024. Williams recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss, figures short of what many other Day 1 prospects managed but enough for a second-team All-SEC nod. Still, a top-10 selection will be on the table if Carolina’s interest in him holds through the rest of the pre-draft process.

Pauline’s latest mock draft (along with that of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.) has the Panthers looking to Georgia with their top pick but instead selecting hybrid linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker. He will be worth watching closely as Carolina continues to line up top-30 visits over the coming days, but the same is also true of Williams.