With the eighth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers are expected to focus on strengthening their defense. Many mock drafts suggest they could target a linebacker like Jalon Walker, an edge rusher such as Walker or Abdul Carter, or an interior defensive lineman like Mason Graham. However, NFL expert Frank Schwab believes there’s a better, perhaps more realistic, option for the Panthers.
According to Schwab, the ideal draft choice for Carolina is Malaki Starks, the All-American safety from Georgia. While Schwab acknowledges that the Panthers have several directions they could go with the eighth overall pick, he argues that Starks would be a strong addition to their defense.
“The Panthers can go in nearly any direction with this pick, and it would make sense,” Schwab explained. “They need help at almost every position, but a versatile safety like Starks could be crucial in building their defense from the ground up.”
Carolina’s safety unit was one of their weakest positions last season, with most of the players—Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Sam Franklin, and Nick Scott—set to become free agents. It’s unlikely many will return, except possibly Franklin, who is mainly a special teams player. With the need to add multiple safeties, selecting Starks could be a smart move, especially as other top defensive prospects like Graham and Carter are likely to be off the board by the time the Panthers pick.
Starks would also fit into the Panthers’ broader strategy of rebuilding their defense. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, bolstered by a dominant defense, serves as a model for Carolina’s rebuilding efforts. Additionally, the Panthers already have several former Georgia players on their defense, so adding Starks could continue that trend. While Walker, another Georgia Bulldog, could be an option, selecting Starks would make sense for Carolina’s defensive overhaul.
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