Dan Morgan made no secret of his desire to build through the draft and restore the Carolina Panthers to the foundations that made this franchise great once upon a time. While results remain poor overall, there's been a lot to like about his first crop of fledgling pros from the college ranks.
The Panthers are relying heavily on their young players considering the constant injury issues and the fact they aren't playing for anything other than pride. They've responded to the challenge effectively, which bodes well for the long-term outlook despite the team bracing itself for another losing campaign under David Tepper's ownership.
It's not just the draft class showing signs of life. The Panthers are also getting more than they bargained for with the undrafted free-agent duo of Demani Richardson and Jalen Coker. There's a lot of hard work ahead, but this represents a tremendous building block en route to sustained prosperity.
With that being said, we took a look at how Carolina's first draft class under Morgan is faring and graded them accordingly at the midway stage of the 2024 campaign.
Re-grading Carolina Panthers 2024 NFL Draft class at the midseason point
Michael Barrett - Former Carolina Panthers LB
- Round No. 7 | No. 240 overall
The Carolina Panthers spent their final draft pick of Dan Morgan's era on Michael Barrett. He didn't have the size or explosiveness normally associated with productive NFL linebackers, but it didn't cost the organization much to find out one way or another.
Barrett struggled to firmly establish himself within Carolina's defensive second level. There were flashes in the preseason but nothing more. Seventh-round selections start from the bottom with nothing guaranteed. It didn't take long to figure out that his chances of making the 53-man roster were hanging by a thread late in the summer.
- Original draft grade: B
- Midseason draft grade: A
This improved draft grade isn't for Barrett's production, but rather for what Morgan turned the pick into. When those in power decided he wouldn't be part of the team's plans, they traded him to the Seattle Seahawks for veteran cornerback Mike Jackson Sr. He's had some moments of struggle with some outstanding production from a prominent starting role thrown in for good measure.
As for the rookie? He made it onto Mike Macdonald's practice squad.
Jaden Crumedy - Carolina Panthers DL
- Round No. 6 | No. 200 overall
The Carolina Panthers' defensive front has gone through its fair share of complications during the season. Losing Pro Bowl lineman Derrick Brown for the entire campaign after just one game was a body blow this group hasn't recovered from effectively. Sixth-round rookie Jaden Crumedy is another who's had a stuttering start to his professional career.
Despite showing promise during the summer, Crumedy was placed on injured reserve with an ankle complication suffered in Carolina's first preseason game. It's been a long, frustrating road back to recovery. Thankfully, there is officially light at the end of the tunnel.
Carolina's decided to part ways with Nick Thurman, who was gaining prominent reps in recent weeks. This was a glaring sign that the Panthers were ready to activate Crumedy after his long absence.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: Incomplete
Expecting miracles from Crumedy after so long away from a competitive setting is unfair and unrealistic in equal measure. The coaching staff will take their time with the former Mississippi State star, bringing him along gradually until he finds peak football conditioning once again. If there are no more issues, it would be a surprise if he didn't feature prominently on the rotation as the second half of 2024 progresses.
Chau Smith-Wade - Carolina Panthers CB
- Round No. 5 | No. 157 overall
Chau Smith-Wade is an intriguing prospect. The cornerback looks too undersized to become a dominant outside coverage option based on his initial defensive reps. However, there could be a future for the rookie as a long-term slot possibility if the same trend continues.
Smith-Wade's initial performance levels and the Panthers' disappointing record were enough for those in power to release veteran nickel cornerback Troy Hill. It's not perfect and the former Washington State star is going through coverage difficulties, but he's going to benefit enormously from this experience.
One positive from Smith-Wade's contribution so far is his willingness to assist against the run. His run defense grade of 68.4 from Pro Football Focus represents a solid foundation from which to build. If his pass coverage prowess evolves in the coming months, the Panthers might be onto something.
- Original draft grade: C
- Midseason draft grade: B-
The second half of 2024 promises to be a rollercoaster for Smith-Wade. Taking the rough with the smooth is essential. But if the fifth-round pick can gain some semblance of confidence at the game's pinnacle, that'll make a massive difference heading into his sophomore year.
Ja'Tavion Sanders - Carolina Panthers TE
- Round No. 4 | No. 101 overall
I was a big fan of Ja'Tavion Sanders coming out of Texas. He had some significant refinement ahead as a blocker, but the pass-catching production coupled with some outstanding athleticism made him an exciting prospect.
The Carolina Panthers thought so, too. General manager Dan Morgan ended Sanders' slide at No. 101 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's not the finished product just yet. Even so, the signs are there that he can become a significant asset to the long-term offensive strategy.
Sanders already has more receiving yards than any Panthers' tight end since Greg Olsen. He leads the team overall in receiving yards after Carolina traded Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. His outstanding performance in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints was another positive step in the right direction.
- Original draft grade: A
- Midseason draft grade: A+
Just how Sanders made it onto Day 3 is anyone's guess. The signs were there in college and his transition is going better than some anticipated. If he can build on this positive momentum, the Panthers might have finally found their heir to Olsen after so long without consistent tight-end production.
Trevin Wallace - Carolina Panthers LB
- Round No. 3 | No. 72 overall
Dan Morgan is a former linebacker who enjoyed an accomplished college and professional career at the defensive second level. Although his decision to select Trevin Wallace at No. 72 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft was a head-scratcher to many, most fans trusted his previous knowledge of the position and were willing to let things play out.
Wallace was given time to learn behind the veteran starting duo of Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell throughout the summer. He was thrust into the limelight much sooner than expected due to injury, which represented a baptism of fire for the former Kentucky standout in no uncertain terms.
It's been a rollercoaster for Wallace. He's shown some capabilities in coverage but has difficulty identifying run fits effectively enough. This is all part of his steep learning curve, but there is enough to suggest a productive career could be in the offing with additional experience and development.
- Original draft grade: C+
- Midseason draft grade: B
Whether Wallace has the physical profile to become the next great Panthers linebacker remains to be seen. At the very least, he looks like a potential long-term starter at best and a core special teamer/rotational piece at worst.
Jonathon Brooks - Carolina Panthers RB
- Round No. 2 | No. 46 overall
The Carolina Panthers raised a few eyebrows when they traded up in the second round for Jonathon Brooks. He was widely perceived as the best running back in this year's draft class when healthy. Unfortunately, there were also some significant red flags after a torn ACL suffered during his final college campaign with the Texas Longhorns.
Brooks has been seldom seen so far. The Panthers took every possible precaution to ensure any more complications were kept to a minimum. The backfield threat returned to the field three weeks ago. Barring any last-minute setbacks, it seems like he'll make his long-awaited debut during Carolina's international game against the New York Giants in Week 10.
This is a source of great excitement among the fanbase. The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard to pick up the slack, which allows them to pick and choose their spots with Brooks. That said, he's got the talent to make a significant difference behind an outstanding offensive line.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: Incomplete
Until Brooks proves himself in a competitive setting, it's unfair to gauge what sort of long-term potential is attached. The Panthers believe he's got special traits, so watching how he performs over the second half of 2024 will provide some clarity.
Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR
- Round No. 1 | No. 32 overall
It didn't take long for Xavier Legette to become the apple of Dan Morgan's eye during the Panthers' pre-draft evaluations. The charismatic wide receiver left a huge impression on those in power. His size, physicality, and outstanding final campaign in South Carolina were enough for the general manager to make a slight move up the order to secure his services.
The Panthers moved up one position to draft Legette at No. 32 overall. A hamstring injury dented his progress throughout the summer. It's been largely pleasing aside from that, although the wideout isn't the finished product by any stretch of the imagination.
There are some route-running issues and Legette's ability to generate yards after the catch needs to improve. The most positive element centers on the pass-catcher's red-zone efficiency, where he's quickly emerged into a dangerous weapon en route to four touchdowns to date.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: A
Carolina has tasked Legette with increasing responsibilities after Adam Thielen's injury and trading Diontae Johnson. He's coped well with the pressure, and he's doing it all with a smile on his face. Something that's also made him a fan favorite immediately.