Dave Canales Opens Up on Panthers’ Draft Strategy: Who Will Carolina Take at No. 8?
With the 2025 NFL Draft just around the corner, speculation is running wild about how the Carolina Panthers will use their coveted eighth overall pick. The franchise faces tough decisions as they look to rebuild a struggling roster, and fans are eager to see if the team will prioritize defense, offense, or simply take the best player available.
At the NFL meetings in Palm Beach, head coach Dave Canales provided rare insight into the team’s thought process. While every team aims to secure the top talent available, Canales emphasized that bolstering the Panthers’ defense—which ranked among the league’s worst last season—should be a key priority.
“To be in this position, in my mind, when you have an opportunity to pick in the top 10 of the draft, we’re doing all the work on making sure we identify the best available player,” Canales explained via Panthers Wire. “We’ve had some great conversations about some offensive playmakers in this class, some defensive playmakers—and we’ve come away with saying, ‘Ok, look, we are going to get a great player. Let’s make sure we have the right guy, the right fit. Somebody that we want to be a Panther for a long time.’ So that’s really where our conversations are.”
The Panthers have clear needs on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they could use reinforcements alongside star cornerback Jaycee Horn to solidify the secondary, or a game-changing pass rusher to anchor the front line. Offensively, nearly every position could benefit from an infusion of elite talent, whether it’s a playmaking wide receiver, a dominant offensive lineman, or a dynamic weapon for quarterback Bryce Young.
As draft day approaches, all eyes will be on Canales and the Panthers’ front office to see how they execute their plan. With so many options on the table, Carolina’s selection at No. 8 could be one of the most pivotal picks of the draft.