Dan Morgan was given a thankless task by the Carolina Panthers this offseason. His promotion to general manager came with mixed reviews thanks to his previous association with Scott Fitterer. However, team owner David Tepper felt confident in his ability to form a legitimate long-term plan for success.
It's been a rollercoaster few months for Morgan. He was part of the old regime, which prepared him fully for the mess inherited. Considering the difficult circumstances attached, the new front-office leader has done a decent job.
Not every decision received widespread approval. Morgan also admitted that not every problem was going to be solved immediately. Things could get worse before they get better, but Carolina's long-suffering fanbase can relax safe in the knowledge there is a project in place at last.
With this in mind, here are three sizable wins Morgan managed to accomplish during his first offseason at the helm in 2024.
Carolina Panthers removed deadwood
One of the biggest factors behind the previous regime's demise was bad signings and even worse contracts. Very few of their acquisitions met even modest expectations. Almost all of them were handed deals above their projected pay grade. It was a complete disaster from start to finish.
Dan Morgan had a choice to make this offseason. After much deliberation, he opted to remove the deadwood in one fell swoop despite the minimal financial savings attached.
The likes of Hayden Hurst, Donte Jackson, Vonn Bell, and Bradley Bozeman were deemed surplus to requirements. Morgan ripped the band-aid swiftly for a more prosperous future. This was the right call to make, especially considering not much is expected of the Carolina Panthers during their first season under new head coach Dave Canales in 2024.
If the Panthers are in a better position to contend next spring and beyond, Morgan now boasts the financial flexibility to become bigger players in free agency. That's the theory everyone is now working towards as part of Carolina's collaborative vision for the future.
Carolina Panthers changed one major narrative
Trading Brian Burns to the New York Giants was an indictment of the previous regime's incompetence more than anything else. Dan Morgan was part of that decision-making process, but he didn't have the final say. All he did was clean up the mess.
To say the Panthers handled Burns' situation poorly would be an understatement. The edge rusher should have been paid immediately after they turned down a whopping trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams. Instead, false promises and failure to reward loyalty left this relationship fractured beyond repair.
This set a dangerous precedent - one that didn't go unnoticed by players and fans alike. Morgan had to shift the narrative of the Carolina Panthers' perceived willingness to let high-level players leave in their prime. Thankfully, he managed to navigate this successfully in a short space of time.
How did Morgan accomplish this? Look no further than the new deal handed to Derrick Brown.
Brown was coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign in 2023. The former first-round selection also broke the NFL's single-season tackle record for interior defensive lineman. This handed him and his representatives plenty of leverage entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Many speculated whether Brown would hold out after seeing how the Panthers treated Burns. He made the mistake of showing up throughout training camp. Although it's admirable from a loyalty standpoint, those in power took advantage of his good nature and didn't repay the favor.
Thankfully, these concerns surrounding Brown's future were alleviated quickly. The Auburn product penned a new four-year, $96 million deal that also included a $59.31 million guaranteed. This was met with a collective sigh of relief from fans, who've become all too familiar with their heroes leaving way ahead of time in recent years.
This was a sign that Morgan and Brandt Tilis were doing things differently. They turned a potentially complicated situation into something positive. Hopefully, this trend can continue long into the future.
Carolina Panthers focused on Bryce Young
One could forgive Bryce Young for feeling extremely let down last season. The Carolina Panthers did almost nothing to help their new rookie quarterback and he suffered accordingly. Aside from a few flashes and two wins, his first campaign in the pros was an unmitigated disaster.
Many in the national media lambasted Young unfairly during and after the season. The Panthers were ridiculed for what some perceived as one of the worst draft trades in NFL history. In almost every case, there was no consideration of the mitigating factors behind his demise.
This was not an opinion shared by the Panthers. Dan Morgan did everything in his power to place the right pieces around Young this offseason. The Heisman Trophy winner is now in a much better place to show the world why he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Young's improved supporting cast coupled with Dave Canales as head coach has things looking up for the signal-caller. There is a lot of hard work ahead and nothing is guaranteed. But either way, Morgan will get a true evaluation of Carolina's prized possession next season.
Considering the investment made in Young - one that saw the Panthers hand over the No. 1 pick in 2024 to the Chicago Bears - there was no other option. Giving the former Alabama star a fighting chance at proving he can become a productive quarterback was the right thing to do. It might come at the expense of defensive production, but it's a small price to pay if Carolina's man under center makes strides.
This was a big confidence boost for Young when he needed it most. Morgan deserves credit for striking with conviction when opportunities arose in free agency, the draft, and the trade market. If these moves have the desired effect, the Panthers are going to reap some hefty short and long-term rewards.