What bold trades should Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan consider during his first offseason as the new front-office leader?
There is an untold amount of hard work ahead for general manager Dan Morgan this offseason. The Carolina Panthers were the NFL's worst team for a reason. They were nothing short of atrocious last season. There were very few positives to take. As such, the new regime has a significant mess to clean up.
The Panthers aren't blessed with huge resources this offseason. Morgan must squeeze every last drop from the assets available. While the need to rebuild gradually is obvious, Carolina must also maximize Bryce Young's rookie contract before things get more expensive in the coming years.
Morgan is looking to rid himself of Scott Fitterer's stench as his former right-hand man. Hitting the ground running and removing the skepticism surrounding his promotion is paramount. Whether that results in going a little bolder is the right opportunity comes along remains to be seen.
With this in mind, here are three bold trades Morgan should consider during the 2024 offseason.
Carolina Panthers could trade into Round No. 1
Much has been made about the Carolina Panthers giving up the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Nobody in the building thought this scenario would come to fruition after making a daring trade-up for Bryce Young. Yet another grave error in judgment from Scott Fitterer that's put Dan Morgan in a bad spot.
The Panthers are sitting at No. 33 overall, which isn't a bad consolation prize all things considered. Much will depend on how things unfold in front of them, but striking with conviction for a prospect high on their board can be accomplished by trading into Round No. 1.
Morgan needs to be 100 percent convinced of said prospect. If someone like Brock Bowers fell out of the top 15 due to positional importance, that's something to consider. Some analysts also project a run on wide receivers later in the draft. The Panthers could jump the queue to avoid settling for seconds.
Carolina Panthers could trade for Mike Williams
One of the biggest objectives for the Carolina Panthers this offseason is surrounding Bryce Young with better options in the passing game. Adam Thielen aside, it was an anonymous contribution from others at the skill positions. Couple this with the torrid protection from the offensive line, and it's not hard to see why the signal-caller failed to meet expectations.
Young deserves better. The Panthers also need to maximize their substantial investment in the player. They can ill afford the former Alabama star becoming one of the worst No. 1 picks in NFL history. He's got too much talent for that.
Going down the draft route should be considered. There could be some intriguing free agents available if the price is right. General manager Dan Morgan might also decide to swing for the fences with a veteran via trade.
Someone like Mike Williams would be an immediate upgrade on anything Carolina has in its wide receiver room currently. Much will depend on how the player's recovery from an ACL tear is going, but he could be available at a decent price considering the financial complications currently enveloping the Los Angeles Chargers.
Williams has the size and explosiveness to be a matchup nightmare at all three levels of the field. He is one of the league's best in contested catch situations. The former first-round pick out of Clemson also represents a premier red-zone target for good measure.
If the medical tests check out, this wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Williams might also be the most expendable Chargers player in pursuit of easing their salary-cap burden.
Carolina Panthers could trade for Brandon Aiyuk
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for some roster alterations after narrowly missing out on another Super Bowl. They have one more season of Brock Purdy's seventh-round rookie deal left before the quarterback is eligible for a more lucrative extension. In short, the chickens are coming home to roost.
They have an abundance of veterans earning significant dollars. This means there could be an odd man out to salvage some financial flexibility moving forward. Brandon Aiyuk might be that guy.
There is growing speculation linking Aiyuk with a move away from San Francisco. The wide receiver is an exceptional playmaker entering his prime. Considering the money he'll likely demand on his next deal, the Niners could decide to cut their losses and attempt to maximize trade compensation heading into the final year of his deal.
If the Niners begin taking calls for Aiyuk, the Panthers should throw their hat in the ring. They might not have the resources to pull it off - especially if his contract demands are bordering on resetting the market - but inquiring is the minimum requirement from Dan Morgan's perspective for one of the league's best young wideouts.
While some fans are wary about parting ways with draft capital, Aiyuk is a proven commodity with his best years ahead. He is exactly the sort of legitimate WR1 that quarterback Bryce Young needs.