Dan Morgan won the respect of Carolina Panthers fans over his first year as general manager. Some were skeptical about his promotion considering how close he was to Scott Fitterer. His no-nonsense approach and purposeful long-term vision for the franchise got everyone onside.
It wasn't perfect. Morgan's first draft class came with mixed reviews after one season. His defensive neglect resulted in a historically bad campaign from Ejiro Evero's unit. Trading for wide receiver Diontae Johnson was an unmitigated disaster, although the front-office leader deserves credit for cutting the cord before things became too toxic.
The Panthers made some significant improvements over the second half of 2024. They were successful in every contest, but Carolina was much more competitive. This brought much-needed stability to the organization, which is a far cry from the erratic moves under David Tepper's ownership beforehand.
Things are looking up for the Panthers. What's important for Morgan and his staff is building on this newfound continuity and kicking on in the coming months. Something that could potentially see Carolina become a trendy pick for the NFC South championship next time around.
There is a lot to get through before competitive action begins again. With this in mind, here are five difficult decisions facing Morgan during the 2025 offseason.
Difficult offseason decisions facing Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan in 2025
Carolina Panthers running back dynamic
Dan Morgan didn't expect the running back position to become a glaring need after drafting Jonathon Brooks and signing Chuba Hubbard to a four-year extension. Unfortunately for the general manager, that's exactly what he's facing.
Hubbard finished the season on injured reserve but should be raring to go by the time early workouts roll around. That's not the case with Brooks, who the Carolina Panthers traded up in the draft to acquire at No. 46 overall.
Morgan did this knowing that Brooks was recovering from a torn ACL. The Panthers thought his long-term upside was enough to take the plunge. He lasted just over two games before suffering the same injury on the same knee.
Brooks will miss most if not all of the 2025 campaign. Miles Sanders is projected to be a salary-cap casualty. That leaves Hubbard and not much else, so Morgan faces a difficult decision regarding Carolina's backfield options alongside quarterback Bryce Young.
Much will depend on Brooks' recovery timeline. But Morgan doesn't have the luxury of waiting around on the off chance he'll be able to get back sooner than expected.
There cannot be any sentiment attached. That's where the problems arise.
Carolina Panthers' salary-cap management
The Carolina Panthers and others around the NFL received a significant financial boost with a much-enhanced salary cap in 2025. Business has never been better for the league. That is reflected in the resources available to every franchise this season.
According to Dan Graziano from ESPN, teams were informed that this year's salary cap would be between $277.5 million to $281.5 million. That represents a substantial hike from $255.4 million in 2024 and gave the Panthers some much-needed breathing space.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
They're not out of the woods entirely. The Panthers don't have much wiggle room financially. Managing their salary cap effectively without jeopardizing the team's long-term aspirations is a complex riddle. Difficult decisions will be made, but having Brandt Tilis around represents an ace up Carolina's sleeve.
Tilis gained a fearsome reputation for his salary-cap maneuvering during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs front office. It's one of the big reasons Carolina brought him into the fold, allowing Dan Morgan to focus his attention on recruitment and evaluation.
The Panthers have just $19.84 million in effective salary-cap space. Morgan and Tilis need more. At the same time, they cannot kick the can down the road too much to preserve future flexibility.
It's a fine line.
Carolina Panthers center plans
The Carolina Panthers' offensive line went from a weak link to one of the team's significant strengths in 2024. But there is a difficult decision facing Dan Morgan to keep this momentum going.
Morgan took a calculated risk with the center position, switching Austin Corbett from right guard to become the protection's anchor. The former second-round pick transitioned seamlessly, but a torn bicep ended his campaign ahead of time.
Brady Christensen filled the void but was forced to the blindside when Ikem Ekwonu missed time. Cade Mays was brought back from the New York Giants practice squad, performing well to keep the job and galvanize his career.
Corbett, Christensen, and Mays are all free agents. It would be surprising if one wasn't brought back. The tough part is figuring out which player should be part of the Panthers' plans moving forward.
There's a chance Corbett and Mays both return to keep continuity. Christensen will attract interest in free agency, so the former third-round pick out of BYU could depart if he gets an offer to start elsewhere.
Morgan shouldn't dismiss the possibility of starting fresh with a free agent or draft pick. Getting this decision right is key considering the center's close association with quarterback Bryce Young.
Attention to Carolina Panthers' defensive detail
Dan Morgan failed to give Ejiro Evero enough to deploy his 3-4 base defense effectively. The Carolina Panthers transitioned their prominent investments to the offense, spending big on the offensive line and using three of the first four draft picks on the skill positions around quarterback Bryce Young.
This paid off to a certain extent. However, the defensive frailties were glaring.
The Panthers gave up the most single-season points in NFL history. Their defensive 3-4 front was overwhelmed without Pro Bowl lineman Derrick Brown. Their run defense was an abomination, giving up 179.8 rushing yards per game.
Giving the defense priority is crucial. Morgan cannot penny-pinch or neglect defensive reinforcements, especially considering Evero got retained. Building from the inside out by fortifying the trenches and finding more explosive edge rushers would be a good place to start, but every position group needs a makeover.
The safety spot could potentially have two new starters. The same goes for the defensive front and maybe even the cornerback unit depending on what happens with Mike Jackson Sr. It's a difficult situation for Morgan — one he brought on himself by failing to find the right investment balance during his first offseason at the helm.
How to help Bryce Young in year three
Bryce Young made incredible strides over the second half of 2024. Head coach Dave Canales made a bold move to bench the quarterback after just two games, giving him breathing space and a chance to learn away from the limelight. It represented a franchise-altering decision that could have gone either way.
Thankfully, it brought a positive response from Young. He used the criticism as motivation, regaining confidence and emerging as a leader in the locker room. When the former Alabama standout got the chance to start again, he seized it with both hands.
Young showed why the Panthers moved up to take him at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He's locked in as the team's starting option next season. The difficult decision facing Dan Morgan is what he can do in pursuit of helping the Heisman Trophy winner take the next step.
We've mentioned the running back room. The Panthers need a prolific wide receiver and could use more help at the tight end position. Morgan doesn't have enough to land a marquee name as things stand, but he cannot rely on the options already available.
The importance of helping Young flourish further cannot be overstated. It's a complete mess defensively, but that does not detract from the need to strengthen around Carolina's franchise player.