Dan Morgan navigated rough waters during his first year as Carolina Panthers general manager. He was on damage limitation and made tough decisions for a more sustainable future. It wasn't easy, but this project will take time to flourish.
Team owner David Tepper is bullish about the future. The billionaire hedge fund manager opted for stability this offseason with Morgan, Brandt Tilis, and head coach Dave Canales. This brings an unusual sense of calm to the Panthers — something fans haven't experienced under his ownership before.
That's a big positive, especially considering Tepper is staying out of the limelight and letting the football professionals do their job. The team made some encouraging strides over the second half of 2024, but things are still hanging precariously.
This is an important few months for Morgan and his staff. A strong recruitment period while keeping the bigger picture in mind is essential. If the Panthers can achieve this objective, don't be surprised if they are a trendy pick for a Wild Card playoff spot and a potential NFC South title candidate when the new campaign arrives.
Before then, here are five pressing offseason priorities facing Morgan in 2025.
Pressing offseason priorities for the Carolina Panthers in 2025
Trimming the fat
Dan Morgan released several established veterans ahead of time last offseason. Taking short-term hits for future financial flexibility was a drastic yet necessary measure. But they aren't out of the mire just yet.
According to Spotrac, the Panthers have $23.58 million in available salary-cap space with 51 players under contract. That's not enough if Carolina wants to sign high-quality free agents to give this rebuild another shot in the arm.
Morgan will need to trim the fat at some stage. Having an experienced salary-cap guru such as Brandt Tilis to lean on is a major asset. If they can make the correct sacrifices and raise the resources available somewhat, Carolina's chances will be better.
Some potential salary-cap-cut candidates will come under the microscope. Miles Sanders, Dane Jackson, and Shy Tuttle have underwhelmed and might not get a reprieve. A'Shawn Robinson, Yosh Nijman, and perhaps even Jadeveon Clowney are others who'd bring some significant cap relief with their early removal.
It's a tricky conundrum for Morgan and his staff to solve. Some decisions are going to be tougher than others, but this is all part of the pressure of being an NFL general manager for a team that desperately needs to build positive momentum.
Jaycee Horn's long-term deal
Jaycee Horn proved his worth as a core foundational piece this season. The Carolina Panthers cornerback always had the talent, but staying healthy was an ongoing concern that needed to be alleviated.
The Panthers gave Horn a supreme vote of confidence and provided a little extra flexibility by triggering Horn's fifth-year option during the offseason. He repaid this faith by featuring in 15 games and cementing his status among the league's most accomplished shutdown cornerbacks.
Horn was nothing short of sensational from start to finish. He locked down one side of the field with minimal fuss. Teams were wary about looking in his direction. For all Carolina's problems on defense, and they were in plentiful supply, the former first-round pick's exceptional production was a beaming light amid the chaos.
The South Carolina product earned his first-ever Pro Bowl selection as a result of his efforts. Horn left no doubt regarding his importance to the Panthers' future. Getting a long-term deal done won't be cheap, but it should be among Dan Morgan's top offseason priorities regardless.
Spotrac projects Horn to command around $19.63 million per season on a four-year, $78.53 million deal. This would place him fifth among NFL cornerbacks. Although it could be a conservative estimate, a mutually beneficial agreement should be pretty easy to figure out.
Ikem Ekwonu's fifth-year option
Ikem Ekwonu came into the 2024 season with questions to answer. The left tackle admitted to getting complacent in Year 2 of his professional career. He thought the hard work was done after a promising rookie season and paid a heavy price with significant regression.
The Panthers kept faith with Ekwonu. Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert got to work on improving his technical flaws and Dave Canales implemented blocking concepts that suited his strengths. What followed was a much-improved campaign overall from the North Carolina State product.
Ekwonu looked much more like his old self. He was a dominant run blocker and held his own in pass protection. Having more stability across the interior helped enormously and the unit became Carolina's biggest strength.
The No. 6 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft needs to work on discipline after giving up 12 penalties, but his performance levels represented a step in the right direction. This also came at a good time with his fifth-year option decision due this offseason.
According to Over the Cap, Ekwonu's fifth-year option will cost the Panthers $18.42 million based on his playing time. Giving him a long-term extension would be risky, but Dan Morgan will probably trigger the contract clause and see if the edge protector can build on a promising campaign.
Finding the right investment balance
Dan Morgan made his intentions clear during his first offseason at the helm. He wanted to transition his major investments to the offensive side. The Carolina Panthers needed to get a genuine evaluation of quarterback Bryce Young after a rocky rookie campaign. Those in power believed this was the best way to accomplish the task.
It wasn't perfect. Young was benched after two games as head coach Dave Canales wanted to give the signal-caller time to learn and grow away from the spotlight. This was a contentious issue at the time. However, it proved to be a masterstroke.
Young returned to the lineup and looked a different player. His improved poise, precision, and confidence were astonishing considering how bleak things looked previously. A starring performance at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18 put the exclamation point on a remarkable renaissance and cemented his status as the team's starting signal-caller in 2025.
This is the best-case scenario for the Panthers. It came at a price, with the defense overwhelmed in the trenches and giving up the most points in league history. That dictates Morgan needs to be more balanced with his investments in Year 2 as general manager.
If the Panthers can free up more funds and spend their nine draft selections wisely, this looks like an attainable objective.
Taylor Moton's extension
We'll finish with an overlooked priority for the Panthers this offseason. But the answer is pretty simple.
Taylor Moton's been the model of consistency almost from the moment he entered the league as a second-round pick out of Western Michigan. The veteran right tackle is among the league's most underrated edge protectors. His poise, technique, and durability saw him become an integral part of Carolina's plans. His quiet leadership within the locker room further enhanced his influence.
Players like Moton are hard to find. He conceded just one sack and a single penalty from 846 offensive snaps. He gave up just 14 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. His partnership on the right-hand side with Robert Hunt was dominant throughout the season. This sort of loyalty and consistency should be rewarded with another contract.
Moton is counting a whopping $31.34 million on the Panthers' salary cap in 2025 — 11.4 percent of their overall expenditure — in the final year of his deal. That's a lot, but another extension should get the number down considerably.
The Panthers don't have many elite-level performers. Moton is one of them despite being on the wrong side of 30 years old. He's done more than enough for another long-term deal — one that could potentially see him finish out his career in Carolina.