Panthers’ Dan Morgan on why new defense is ‘exciting’ for him, Shy Tuttle’s fit with unit
It’s been more than 15 years since Dan Morgan played in his final regular-season game as a member of the Panthers organization, but the former Carolina linebacker is still heavily involved in the franchise’s on-field production.
Morgan, the Panthers’ assistant general manager, has helped GM Scott Fitterer put new pieces in place throughout a whirlwind offseason. Along with Samir Suleiman, the team’s VP of football administration, Morgan has been a primary source of support for Fitterer as he has navigated a thorough coaching search, a monumental trade up to the first overall pick and a busy free agency period.
Morgan, the team’s senior talent evaluator, has had to adjust his process this offseason with the arrival of a new coaching staff. While head coach Frank Reich’s offense fits into Morgan’s longtime scouting wheelhouse, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s new 3-4 front has shaken things up for Morgan.
“This is the first time from a scouting perspective that the team I’m scouting for is actually a 3-4,” Morgan told The Observer last week during a phone interview. “So I’ve been a 4-3 guy this whole time. So, for me, it’s kind of exciting to be in this 3-4 hybrid. I feel like different players and different body types can fit in this defense then kind of what we’re used to.”
Morgan — who started his NFL scouting career in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks — has embraced the change. In fact, the move to an odd front has given him and his scouting department more flexibility with what they look for in prospects, especially along the defensive line and at linebacker.
“In a 4-3, I feel like it’s a lot more specific about what you want, in terms of like a one-technique or a three-technique, and then your EDGE players,” Morgan said. “But in this defense, I feel like you can have some different body types, and have more versatile players in his defense. From a scouting perspective, I’m really excited about that.”
Morgan and his pro scouts identified former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Shy Tuttle as a good fit for the new front early in the free-agent evaluation process. While the Panthers’ base front will be a 3-4, Carolina needs defensive linemen who can move around the line and attack from multiple spots. Tuttle checked the versatility box.
“Coming into our new defense with Ejiro, we’re getting guys for our scheme,” Morgan said. “And I think in our new scheme, (Tuttle) is going to be able to play a lot of different positions along our front. And then, along with that … the biggest thing that stands out on tape with him is his toughness and his motor to the football, and the way that he plays the game.”
Tuttle, a Lexington native, went undrafted out of Tennessee in 2019. However, after signing with the Saints as a rookie, the defensive lineman ascended up the depth chart year after year. Last season, Tuttle finished with 49 tackles, two sacks and five pass breakups.
The Panthers signed Tuttle to a three-year, $19.5 million contract after agreeing to the deal during the opening rush of free agency. The Carolina brain trust believes Tuttle can be a tone-setter on the line.
“Talking to the coaching staff, talking to Scott and Samir — we wanted to bring guys in that are competitors, and tough, and are going to bring that edge,” Morgan said. “And we felt like he was going to bring that, so we’re really excited about him.”
And while Morgan doesn’t strap on a helmet anymore, his adrenaline still flows whenever the Panthers make a splash move. As a talent evaluator, landing the players that he wants still gives him the pride and energy he once displayed on the turf.
“When I first started scouting that was the cool part about this job — collaborating with people in building the roster, putting the roster together, and trying to field the best team in the NFL,” Morgan said. “So, anytime you make a big free agent signing, or a big trade up, or any kind of thing like that, it definitely gets the adrenaline going, and really raises the excitement level, not just with me, but just in the organization and within the city.”
This story was originally published April 5, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
