How can Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan avoid disaster during his first 2024 NFL Draft as the team's front-office leader?
After a busy free agency period for the Carolina Panthers, general manager Dan Morgan must further enhance the team's chances of progression by successfully navigating the 2024 NFL Draft. Scott Fitterer didn't accomplish this effectively and paid with his job.
Morgan seems to be going about things with more professionalism and purpose than the previous regime. He's making tough choices to provide a level of stability. He wants to build through the draft and supplement with free-agent additions. Hitting on his picks in 2024 is the first stepping stone to achieving this feat.
The Panthers don't have a first-round pick following their trade-up for quarterback Bryce Young last year. Morgan does have seven other selections over the remaining rounds to potentially find immediate difference-makers and intriguing development options. Whether he can achieve this or not remains to be seen.
With this in mind, here are three ways the Panthers can avoid disaster when the all-important selection process arrives.
Carolina Panthers must stick to the plan
Some fans might not like the way Dan Morgan's gone about his business where certain decisions are concerned, but there is a legitimate plan in place at last. No longer will the Carolina Panthers gamble their future on suspect trades for players down on their luck, there's a different mindset within the building as the new power structure looks to get this once-proud franchise off its knees and back to respectability.
Sticking to this plan is critical. Morgan wants to take the best players available and find the right characters that fit into the team's culture, which he is looking to restore. Some obvious needs must be addressed, but adopting this mentality throughout the draft process represents a solid foundation from which to build.
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Carolina Panthers must not panic
It's easy for teams and front-office figures to become overawed and panic during the draft. Remaining calm amid the chaos is paramount to successfully coming out of the selection event with more positives than negatives.
For all of Scott Fitterer's experience in draft war rooms and scouting processes during his time with the Seattle Seahawks, there was a distinct lack of poise when it came to his approach. The Carolina Panthers suffered greatly as a result.
Whether it was reaching for Terrace Marshall Jr. so the New Orleans Saints couldn't get the wide receiver one pick later in 2021 or panicking by sacrificing additional assets to trade up for edge rusher D.J. Johnson in the third round last year, it was a mess more often than not.
It reeked of desperation and became too reactionary. The former general manager wheeled and dealt up or down the board often, but it didn't have the desired effect for the most part.
Dan Morgan got a first-hand look at Fitterer's indifferent draft ethos over the last three years. While the new man in charge was complicit in the team's failings, lessons must be taken on board in pursuit of better fortunes.
Morgan should be watching how the first round unfolds with great interest. The Panthers are going to be busy early on Day 2 with two early second-round selections to call upon. They must make composed, collaborative decisions and play their board effectively. Anything less will see the same old complications arise.
Carolina Panthers must extract maximum value
As previously stated, Scott Fitterer's in-on-every-deal philosophy didn't come with much substance attached. It's hard to pick out any trades made by the former general manager that reaped long-term rewards. However, there's still time for quarterback Bryce Young to turn things around despite a turbulent rookie campaign.
The Carolina Panthers must move forward with a less reckless approach to their draft ethos. Much has been made about giving up the No. 1 overall selection to the Chicago Bears, which makes it more imperative to maximize every available asset and strike with conviction when opportunities come along.
Trading down seems more likely than moving up - especially early on. Morgan wants to build through the draft, so giving up assets Carolina isn't exactly blessed with wouldn't be the smartest way to achieve this objective.
Morgan is also making every decision with the future in mind. The general manager took financial hits now to provide long-term flexibility. If there's a chance for the Panthers to recoup a 2025 second-round pick that is also going to Chicago, they'd be foolish not to explore the possibility.
Of course, finding the correct college recruits is the most important thing above all else. Morgan has a difficult task on his hands, but spending capital wisely and perhaps acquiring resources for next year's selection event could also enter the team's train of thought.