Panthers Reportedly Want to Draft Jalon Walker at 8 But Like 'Mykel Williams a Lot'

A pair of defensive standouts from Georgia are high on the Carolina Panthers' 2025 draft board, according to The Ringer's Todd McShay.

The draft guru reported Tuesday on The McShay Show that Carolina "wants" Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker "but likes Mykel Williams a lot." McShay projected the Panthers to ultimately take Williams to improve their pass rush.

Walker and Williams rank 11th and 27th respectively on Bleacher Report's big board. The former was the choice for Carolina in B/R's most recent mock draft.

"Walker's best position at the next level is still unknown, but Carolina could use help at linebacker and edge-rusher," B/R NFL scout Matt Holder said of the pick. "The defense gets both with the Georgia product as he could be a future building block alongside defensive tackle Derrick Brown."

Walker finished with 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2024. He's a versatile defender who could fill multiple roles within Carolina's defense, so taking him in the top 10 wouldn't be a reach.

Williams projects as more of a pure edge-rusher, though his 14 sacks in three years at Georgia point to how he has a lot of room to grow. He'd be more of a true successor to two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns.

Regardless of which prospect is the final choice, focusing on defense in the first round is the right call for Carolina. The Panthers ranked last in yards (404.5) and points (31.4) allowed per game.

The performance of quarterback Bryce Young after he regained the starting job was encouraging. However, the team isn't going anywhere without improvements to its defense.