Dan Morgan made his intentions clear upon receiving a promotion to the general manager position. He wanted to build through the draft and get the Carolina Panthers on sounder footing following a turbulent spell in franchise history. That wasn't going to happen overnight.
The Panthers rode some rough waters once again in 2024. They finished with just five wins, but there is optimism at long last. The stability and enthused response from the players are quickly changing the culture. This is exactly what Morgan had in mind.
Morgan needed his first draft class to make a significant impact. Some have exceeded expectations. The jury is still out on others, but all hope is not lost with anybody aside from one departure before a competitive down was played this season.
Carolina needs these players to develop throughout the offseason before confidence increases. Morgan also needs to maximize the nine draft selections at his disposal in 2025. If he can recruit well in free agency and nail his picks from the college ranks, the Panthers' chances of becoming a surprise package next time around increase exponentially.
That's for the future. For now, we re-graded the Panthers 2024 NFL Draft class following a rollercoaster first season in the pros.
Re-grading the Carolina Panthers 2024 NFL Draft class after one season
Michael Barrett - LB
- Round No. 7 | No. 240 overall
Michael Barrett didn't last long. The Carolina Panthers took a flier on the former Michigan linebacker in the seventh round. After failing to impress enough during the summer, general manager Dan Morgan deemed him surplus to requirements.
Barrett was traded to the Seattle Seahawks shortly before final cuts. This was the cost for Carolina to get its hands on veteran cornerback Mike Jackson Sr., who started the entire season and looked more than deserving of a contract extension. Something that head coach Dave Canales hinted could arrive before he's permitted to speak with other teams in free agency.
As for Barrett? He found his way onto the Seahawks practice squad. He was released soon after and landed on the Cleveland Browns briefly. The college football national championship winner is currently on the Green Bay Packers practice squad.
- Original draft grade: B
- Midseason draft grade: A
- Draft grade after Year 1: A
Much like midseason, this lofty grade has nothing to do with Barrett's contribution. It has everything to do with what Morgan turned the pick into.
Jaden Crumedy - Carolina Panthers DL
- Round No. 6 | No. 200 overall
The Carolina Panthers' defensive line was not up to the required standard overall in 2024. Losing Pro Bowl lineman Derrick Brown after just one game was a devastating blow to the team's chances. But their problems ran much deeper.
Those occupying starting positions aside from the exception of A'Shawn Robinson didn't rise to the occasion. The Panthers' lack of legitimate depth became their undoing. They were comfortably the league's worst run defense and gave up the most points in NFL history for good measure.
Now that the Panthers have decided to stand pat with coordinator Ejiro Evero, they must revamp the defense to give him a fighting chance. Very few should be considered safe from the chop. That goes for veteran players or those just starting on their NFL journey.
Jaden Crumedy spent most of the season on injured reserve. The Panthers gave him a decent amount of reps down the stretch with nothing much to play for other than pride. The sixth-round selection held his own without standing out, but he remains a relatively unknown quantity with such a small sample size attached.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: Incomplete
- Draft grade after Year 1: C+
Crumedy deserves another chance to potentially impose himself with a smoother preparation period. But this will likely depend on what reinforcements the Panthers acquire on the defensive trenches.
Chau Smith-Wade - Carolina Panthers CB
- Round No. 5 | No. 157 overall
Many thought the Panthers would address their cornerback unit much earlier in the draft. That might be been more beneficial looking at the way prospects such as Cooper DeJean have adjusted to the pros, but that doesn't detract from the encouraging growth displayed by Chau Smith-Wade throughout his rookie year.
Smith-Wade was a fifth-round development project. Questions about where he'd be best suited at the next level quickly became a topic for discussion after the pick was made. The Panthers assessed his progress before switching him to the nickel spot.
They gave Smith-Wade time to adjust. He needed to learn the intricacies of playing the slot effectively. Carolina was suitably impressed by his progress, releasing veteran Troy Hill to give the first-year-pro more time on the field.
It was never going to be smooth sailing for Smith-Wade. Rookie cornerbacks normally go through a bigger baptism of fire compared to other positions. There were mistakes, but there were also plenty of positives to take from his initial output.
- Original draft grade: C
- Midseason draft grade: B-
- Draft grade after Year 1: B+
Carolina's defense had plenty of issues this season. Their cornerback trio of Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson Sr., and Smith-Wade was way down the list of problems. Expect the former Washington State standout to build on this heading into the 2025 campaign.
Ja'Tavion Sanders - Carolina Panthers TE
- Round No. 4 | No. 101 overall
The Carolina Panthers didn't waste much time when Ja'Tavion Sanders was available to start Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was projected to be a Day 2 pick before dropping out of the opening three rounds. This provided the tight end with some extra motivation to prove his doubters wrong.
Sanders made a smooth transition throughout the offseason. The Panthers took their time with the player, but this approach shifted when Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble both went down with injuries.
More was needed from Sanders. The former Texas standout seized the moment en route to becoming a dependable outlet in the passing game.
This is something the Panthers haven't benefitted from since Greg Olsen was the tight-end alpha in Carolina. Sanders accumulated more receiving yards than anyone who came after the Pro Bowler, but a neck injury sustained against the Kansas City Chiefs dented his progress significantly.
The Panthers got Sanders back into the rotation, but his targets decreased to almost nothing. That said, it seemed precautionary rather than any diminished confidence in his long-term outlook.
- Original draft grade: A
- Midseason draft grade: A+
- Draft grade after Year 1: A
The Panthers shouldn't settle, especially with Thomas and Tremble both out of contract. But they can relax safe in the knowledge Sanders is a part of the team's future with additional polish.
Trevin Wallace - Carolina Panthers LB
- Round No. 3 | No. 76 overall
Trevin Wallace was an eyebrow-raising pick by the Panthers. Fans and analysts thought there were better options available that could have provided more of an immediate impact. General manager Dan Morgan — a man who carved out a prolific career for himself at the linebacker position — trusted his instincts and went against the grain.
Wallace was initially projected as a development piece who could assist on the rotation while progressing his overall skill set. When veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson suffered a torn Achilles in Week 2, these plans changed quickly.
The former Kentucky standout was thrust into the spotlight regardless of whether he was ready or not. Wallace suffered some inevitable growing pains throughout the season before going to injured reserve himself. However, some notable flashes of promise shouldn't be ignored.
There is a lot to like about Wallace's play recognition. He identifies where the football is going and gets to the contact point quickly. Once the player gains more experience and learns how not to get lost among the mayhem, a profitable career could be in the offing.
- Original draft grade: C+
- Midseason draft grade: B
- Draft grade after Year 1: B
The Panthers had no option other than to throw Wallace in at the deep end. This experience should serve him well entering Year 2 of his professional career.
Jonathon Brooks - Carolina Panthers RB
- Round No. 2 | No. 46 overall
The Carolina Panthers thought Jonathon Brooks was worth trading up to acquire in the second round. There were significant injury red flags after the running back tore his ACL, but those in power felt he'd be able to make a lasting long-term contribution.
Carolina gave Brooks all the time he needed to recuperate. It was a long road back to practice for the backfield threat. His hard work was rewarded with activation onto the roster before the Panthers' home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brooks was brought along gradually. He got minimal involvement over the opening two games. Unfortunately for the rookie, this newly acquired momentum came screeching to an abrupt halt at the Philadelphia Eagles.
The former Texas standout went down on his first carry with a non-contact injury. There were grave fears that something serious was afoot. These were confirmed when Brooks was diagnosed with another torn ACL on the same leg he'd spent a year rehabilitating.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: Incomplete
- Draft grade after Year 1: C
This is a devastating blow. Brooks now faces another prolonged recovery period and might not be seen again in 2026. The Panthers' decision to extend Chuba Hubbard helped soften the disappointment, but general manager Dan Morgan needs to find another backfield threat if Miles Sanders is made a salary-cap casualty as expected.
Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR
- Round No. 1 | No. 32 overall
Xavier Legette was always the Panthers' top priority. They became enamored with the wide receiver's personality and skill set during the evaluation process. This was enough for general manager Dan Morgan to move up one spot and guarantee his services to close out the first round.
Legette is a physically imposing receiver. However, there were concerns about his lack of college production aside from his final season and how long it would take to pick things up in the pros. After an up-and-down first campaign, the jury is still out.
It's not been a complete dud from Legette's standpoint. He's creating separation quickly and has proven to shake off bad plays when they arrive. The former South Carolina standout has a significant amount of hard work ahead, but these are positive traits to build upon.
The biggest problem with Legette centers on ball security. There have been several critical drops throughout the campaign. It quickly became an ongoing frustration, although it hasn't stopped quarterback Bryce Young from looking in his direction.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: A
- Draft grade after Year 1: B
This season was a steep learning curve for Legette. He's a hard worker, so it would be a surprise if improvements didn't arrive. Whether it's enough to reach his first-round billing in the coming years remains to be seen.