Panthers Land Elite Offensive Weapon and Defensive Playmaker in Ideal Draft Scenario….
The Carolina Panthers did not have the season they envisioned having in 2024. The team ended with a 5-12 record and finished in third place in the NFC South. Quarterback Bryce Young was benched during the season in favor of Andy Dalton, before the team ultimately decided to turn back to Young. All signs point to Young remaining the team’s passer going forward. Now, the rest of the roster around the young quarterback needs to be improved to give him his best chance at success. NFL draft analyst Chad Reuter recently identified the ideal first two picks for each NFL team. For the Panthers, Reuter identified tight end Tyler Warren and defensive back Kevin Winston Jr. as the best possible picks for the team. Regarding the selections of Warren and Winston, Reuter offered the following: The Panthers might have bigger needs on their roster than at tight end, but they are unlikely to find a more impactful
player on offense than Warren. His presence as a safety valve and red-zone threat would aid Bryce Young’s progression as a third-year starter. In this scenario, they take Winston — a rangy, secure tackler — to play beside free-agent pick-up Tre’von Moehrig. By taking two prospects from the same school with their first two picks, they follow the lead of the Rams (who actually traded Carolina this year’s 57th overall pick as part of the process of pairing Jared Verse and Braden Fiske of Florida State) and Jaguars (who took Brian Thomas Jr. and Maason Smith out of LSU) last year. As Reuter mentioned, the Panthers may have bigger needs than a tight end in the first round, but Warren may be too good of a talent to pass up. In 2024, Warren caught a whopping 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. The tight end led the Big Ten in receptions and even finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. While Warren was an elite pass-catcher, the tight end also contributed in other ways. Warren also rushed for 218 yards and four scores, showcasing his versatility. The Penn State product also excels as a blocker and could thrive as an in-line
tight end or in the slot. Winston, meanwhile, was a college teammate of Warren. The defensive back missed most of the 2024 season with injury, only playing in three games. However, Winston impressed in that limited sample size and in 2023. The defender collected 13 tackles and earned a 61.2 Pro Football Focus grade in three games in 2024. In 2023, Winston played in 13 games and collected 61 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass deflections. Winston rarely misses a tackle and isn’t afraid to meet ball carriers in space. In Carolina, Warren and Winston could immediately start and play large roles. Tommy Tremble is currently slated to start at tight end for the Panthers, but Warren has a much higher upside and could be a top target from day one. Winston, meanwhile, could start alongside free agency addition Tre’von Moehrig, giving the Panthers a solid one-two punch at safety.
Butkus Award Finalist Would Be an Ideal Pick for the Colts..
The Colts could draft UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who‘s projected to be a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Colts Carson Schwesinger
The Indianapolis Colts drafted defensive end Laiatu Latu last year. Will they select another defender from UCLA this year? Carson Schwesinger is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Schwesinger plays linebacker, which is one of the Colts’ biggest needs. The team lost a couple of key linebackers this offseason and hasn’t addressed the position in free agency thus far.
Indianapolis owns the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft. With that pick, they will likely select a tight end like Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Either of those guys could be an offensive weapon for whoever the Colts’ starting quarterback will be (Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones). Then the team can draft Schlesinger in the second round as they look to shore up the linebacker position.
UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger Butkus Would Be an Ideal Draft Pick for the Indianapolis Colts
Looking Back at His Career
Carson Schwesinger attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California. During his time there, he recorded 268 combined tackles (13 for loss) and 5.5 sacks. He also played wide receiver, catching 115 passes for 1,670 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Schwesinger then took his talents to UCLA. In 2023, he played in all 13 games, serving as a reserve linebacker and a special teams contributor. He totaled 12 tackles (two for loss) and a sack.
2024 was a breakout season for Schwesinger. During Week 10, he recorded 13 tackles, a sack, and two pass deflections in a win over Nebraska. The following game, he collected seven tackles and two interceptions versus Iowa. Schwesinger led the nation with 90 solo tackles and 7.5 solo tackles per contest. He also led the Big Ten Conference in total tackles (136) and total tackles per game (11.3). Schwesinger was named a First Team All-American, was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team, and was a Butkus Award Finalist, awarded to college football’s top linebacker.
Why the Colts Should Draft Him
This offseason, the Colts lost linebackers E.J. Speed and Grant Stuard in free agency. Speed signed with the AFC South rival Houston Texans. Meanwhile, Stuard went to the Detroit Lions. The losses of those two immediately made the linebacker position a huge weakness for Indy.
The Colts’ roster still includes Zaire Franklin, who’s coming off his first Pro Bowl season. The former seventh-round pick had 173 combined tackles in 2024. Carson Schwesinger could compete with Jaylon Carlies for the starting linebacker job opposite Franklin. Schwesinger is an athletic playmaker and a disruptive tackler. The 6-foot-2, 242-pounder can recognize plays early and quickly get to the football. Schwesinger is a great run defender and an effective blitzer. Due to his motor, he can go sideline-to-sideline, chasing, running, and hitting each time he takes the field.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard has done a fine job this offseason, retooling the defensive side of the ball. He signed defensive backs Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum on the first day of free agency. Ballard also needs to pick up some talented players in the draft, and Carson Schwesinger would be an excellent choice.
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