Dan Morgan left a good impression during his first year as Carolina Panthers general manager. He'll know better than anyone that the hard work is just getting started.
The Panthers have an opportunity to progress. They've got some solid young pieces to build around, and there is stability for the first time in years. Carolina's roster isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the improvements displayed over the second half of 2024 represent a potential turning point in the team's trajectory.
Morgan is embarking on a crucial recruitment period. The moves made in the coming months will likely determine how long it'll take the Panthers to get back into contention. Optimism is high, but that counts for nothing if they cannot build on this newfound positivity.
The front-office leader stated that Carolina will be aggressive in pursuit of improvements. Morgan is working with a long-term strategy in mind, but the Panthers have already wasted the first two years of Bryce Young's rookie contract. That should be enough to raise urgency and strike with supreme conviction when opportunities arise.
With this in mind, here are five grave offseason mistakes Morgan must not make in 2025.
Grave offseason mistakes Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan must avoid in 2025
Carolina Panthers must avoid sentiment
This one should be pretty simple.
Dan Morgan cannot attach any sentiment to his decision-making process. Taking emotion out of the equation and adopting a business-first mindset to benefit the team is paramount if the Carolina Panthers want to blossom under his leadership.
Morgan did this relatively well in his first year. The former linebacker brought back professionalism and purpose to the front office. His primary thought was on improving the Panthers and nothing else. Some fan favorites departed the ranks, but the general manager did what he believed was right for a sustainable future.
Some difficult decisions await. The Panthers have several free agents who probably think they're deserving of new deals. What Morgan needs to figure out is which ones are capable of taking the next step as Carolina looks to enter the NFC South championship picture.
Those under contract should also be nervously looking over their shoulders. Morgan won't hesitate to cut them loose — or at least he shouldn't.
Even guys like Shaq Thompson — the team's second longest-serving player — come into the equation. He's an inspirational leader coming off serious injuries in two successive seasons. If the money doesn't work or there's doubt regarding his ability to produce, the Panthers need to let go.
The NFL is a cutthroat business. It's been a long time since the Panthers treated it as such.
Carolina Panthers must avoid veteran WR trades
Bryce Young deserves enormous credit for showing the correct resolve after his benching. The Carolina Panthers took a drastic measure with the confidence-sapped quarterback. It could have gone either way, but the player's determination to fight back in the face of adversity provided the spark that ignited his career.
Young looked like a different player upon his return to the lineup. He was calm, confident, and trusted his instincts. There was no moment too big and the signal-caller went toe-to-toe against the league's heavyweights with aplomb.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft earned the right to start again next season. Fans, teammates, and coaches firmly believe Young has what it takes to propel the Panthers back to prominence. Building around him is crucial.
Dan Morgan must improve the supporting cast around Young. The general manager needs to find a legitimate game-changing No. 1 wideout. Gambling on a veteran in the trade market is possible, but Carolina must err on the side of caution.
There's a reason teams make players available for trade. They are either regressing to the point of no return or too expensive. Morgan got his hands burned last offseason with the Diontae Johnson acquisition. That represented a harsh lesson that probably dictates a shift in approach this time around.
Investment balance must return
Dan Morgan made a difficult choice during his first offseason at the helm. The general manager recognized the need to get a genuine evaluation of quarterback Bryce Young. This saw a seismic shift in the team's investments.
Morgan transitioned his primary resources in 2024 to the offensive side. Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis were acquired at great expense to bolster the offensive line interior. Three of Carolina's first four draft picks went on the skill positions around Young. They even sacrificed capital and a large salary on wide receiver Diontae Johnson via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This was largely positive. However, it came at the expense of Ejiro Evero's defense.
They put together a historically bad campaign. The Panthers gave up the most single-season points in NFL history and had the league's worst run defense by more than 30 yards per game. Morgan conceded he didn't do enough to assist the coordinator, which should be addressed urgently this spring.
There needs to be a better balance regarding Carolina's investment. The defense should take priority, but getting complacent on offense is not an option either. It's a fine line Morgan failed to manage in 2024. That cannot be the case this time around.
Otherwise, the consequences will be severe.
Carolina Panthers' draft strategy
We'll hear it a lot over the next few months.
"Oh, he's a great prospect, but he's not a good scheme fit."
"He's an outstanding prospect, but this isn't a position of need."
What separates the good teams from the also-rans is that they never settle. They are always looking to upgrade every position. They focus on the draft prospect rather than any specific need.
Just draft good football players and worry about the rest later.
Dan Morgan needs to keep that in mind. There's an obvious need to strengthen the defense, which was nothing short of woeful throughout 2024. However, reaching for prospects because they fill a weakness or avoiding players because they don't fit Ejiro Evero's 3-4 defensive scheme isn't an option.
If Evero can't work with specific players, that's a coaching issue. Just ask Jeremy Chinn, who was cast aside as an afterthought before putting together an outstanding campaign with the Washington Commanders en route to the NFC Championship game.
Draft good players. Focus on their talent, high character, and passion for the game. Everything else should fall into place after that.
Morgan has nine draft selections at his disposal in 2025. Maximizing these resources will make a huge difference to Carolina's long-term outlook.
Carolina Panthers must avoid rash gambles
The Panthers enter the offseason with more stability, collaboration, and continuity than ever. This represents a major positive considering how demoralizing things have been under David Tepper's ownership to date.
However, this remains a precarious situation that could go either way.
Carolina isn't blessed with much wiggle room financially. They are projected to have $20.87 million in available salary-cap space with 55 players under contract. That will change when releases, restructures, and extensions are confirmed, but kicking the can down the road too much jeopardizes the long-term project.
There is no room for rash gambles. That became synonymous with the previous regimes when Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer held power. They were always trying to find quick fixes to ongoing complications. Almost every move blew up in their face.
Dan Morgan must be aggressive and calculated in equal measure. Overspending would be foolish. At the same time, there could be room for a marquee splash that can help either side of the football. Something he managed last offseason by convincing right guard Robert Hunt to join the ranks with a five-year, $100 million deal.
Fans are approaching the offseason with hope where once there was nothing but pessimism. Mortgaging the franchise's future on a less-than-sure thing is a risk not worth taking.