Who could be on Panthers GM Dan Morgan’s free-agent target list this offseason?
The Super Bowl is over and done with, and the Carolina Panthers are about to enter the business season.
So, naturally, Panthers fans are curious about how their favorite team will attack free agency and the draft. That’s why The Observer has brought back the Panthers mailbag to answer some fan questions from social media.
Here are some standout questions from X, Threads and Bluesky:
Carolina’s big connections in the draft
Brian on Threads asks: What are your thoughts on the players the Panthers should target at 8 (e.g., Carter, Hunter, Johnson, Graham) — and if they aren’t there, is the better value to trade down?
Mike Kaye: Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter and Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter feel like pipe dreams at No. 8 at this stage in the draft process. Michigan cornerback Will Johnson also seems likely to be off the board before the Panthers select at No. 8.
Defensive lineman Mason Graham, a fellow Wolverines standout, appears to be a realistic option, but he could go anywhere from No. 5 to No. 8 with the way the second leg of the top 10 sets up. Graham, if he fell to No. 8, would seemingly be a slam-dunk selection.
If those four prospects mentioned by Brian aren’t there at No. 8 — which seems pretty likely ahead of this month’s NFL Scouting Combine — the Panthers might be eager to trade back.
In speaking with NFL evaluators at the Shrine Bowl practices last month, the sense was that there was a big talent dropoff after the first five or six non-QB prospects were off the board. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan told The Observer that he was hoping that teams ahead of the Panthers became enamored with QBs, so better talent would fall to Carolina, seemingly confirming that notion.
A slight trade back could make sense for the Panthers.
Remember, they own the Los Angeles Rams’ 57th overall pick in the second round. They dealt away their own second-round selection in the 2023 mega-trade to land Bryce Young. So, there’s a pretty wide gap (48 picks to be exact) between their first and second picks. A trade back into the teens could help them land another Day 2 pick without completely diluting the talent pool.
Players like Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, Georgia pass rusher Mykel Williams and Marshall pass rusher Mike Green could make sense as trade-back targets.
That said, if the Panthers feel like they want to go with a best-player-available approach at No. 8, they could stick to their spot and draft someone like Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker or Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
Go defense or go home in the draft?
Loser Dude (self-appointed name) on Bluesky asks: Should we expect most draft picks to be used on the defensive side of the ball or do you see Dan Morgan as a “best available” type?
Some of the strategy for the draft will be impacted by what’s done in free agency. That’s not to say that the Panthers will press if they miss out on upgrades on the veteran market, but filling holes before the draft will allow the front office to act with more fluidity by nature.
The Panthers will be “aggressive” in upgrading their defense, as Morgan has stated multiple times since the conclusion of the season. But the second-year GM has also acknowledged that the front office wants to be smart with the way they go about things.
With edge rushers and wide receivers, for instance, it’s hard to play the money game, largely because elite players at those positions don’t typically hit free agency. So, there are second-tier (read: very good but not great) options that hit the market and set the market because of the limitations of the talent pool.
If the Panthers want to avoid getting into a top-of-the-market bidding war for Josh Sweat or Tee Higgins, they might be inclined to simply bet on their scouting skills and handle those two positions in the draft. They could also sign third-tier options to improve their depth (or floor) at the positions before spending notable picks on projected upgrades.
So, again, the spending in free agency will impact the dynamic of the draft to an extent. That said, Morgan is a scout at heart, and going with a “best player available” approach (based on the Panthers’ draft board) could make sense given the vast areas of needs for Carolina.
Most positions on the roster could use upgrades, so going with top-rated talent in each round can’t hurt. ”Best player available” (or BPA for short) as a strategy is largely subjective, as no two teams have the same draft board. For example, just because the Panthers have a player as a top-20 grade, doesn’t mean any other team has that prospect in the same range.
The whole BPA thing, to this writer, is largely fodder. The Panthers trusting their board is fine, but acting like there is a universal best player available is silly. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.
Morgan will trust his scouting department and his own evaluations, and each selection will probably be its own discussion. Good organizations don’t force selections for positions of need.
Some potential free-agent targets for the Panthers
Brad on Bluesky asks: Name three potential free-agent signings you believe are possible for Dan Morgan to pursue.
The Panthers are projected to have around $20.9 million in salary cap space this offseason, according to Over The Cap. They can do some maneuvering to open up notable space, but they’ll still (at best) be in the middle of the salary-cap realm entering free agency in March.
That outlook means they’ll be in position to be outbid by roughly half the league for notable talent. So, they’ll need to spend wisely.
That doesn’t mean they should bargain hunt — it means they should have a spending plan and stick within it. That could mean chasing one big fish before bringing in a bunch of mid-tier role players (comparable to their strategy last season). Or, they could play the secondary market with a bit of fluidity after making one or two instant gratification signings.
Morgan and executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis are in lockstep and that should help the Panthers formulate a solid plan.
Three free agents that make sense for Carolina: Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams, Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and Los Angeles Chargers nose tackle Poona Ford.
As mentioned earlier, Higgins and Sweat will have pretty notable markets with teams that have excessive salary-cap resources.
But Holland and Williams strike this beat writer as this year’s potential Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis additions for the defense, as two outstanding young players with proven ability and remaining upside worth exploring. Both are in their mid-20s, and have strong production resumes to feel good about.
Holland is among the most noteworthy names, on offense or defense, in free agency. He has good range and ball skills, and he would be an upgrade over Xavier Woods and/or Jordan Fuller. Williams just had an epic two-sack performance in the Super Bowl, and he also forced a fumble in the Big Game. Williams will be paid a fortune, but he’s worth it, as he has the versatility to play all along the line and be used in several different ways.
Ford is coming off a career year with the Chargers. But before he arrived in the AFC West, he spent the bulk of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Ford is a rotational player who can be used as a nose tackle or defensive end in Ejiro Evero’s defense. While he’s not a marquee name, he has a background with head coach Dave Canales from their shared time in Seattle. He is also perfectly fit to play between Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson.
I offered up three names on defense, so I’ll give you an extra one for the offense. Los Angeles Rams wideout Tutu Atwell would seemingly lift up the Z position depth, alongside Jalen Coker, opposite Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette.
Atwell isn’t going to break the bank, and he’s only 25. He would also bring much-needed speed and gadget ability to the fold, while not necessarily being used as a top target in the offense. Signing Atwell also wouldn’t preclude the Panthers from spending a high pick on a wide receiver in April.
Selling the farm for proven premium talent
Remy on X, formerly known as Twitter, asks: I know us on Panthers Twitter believe in Bryce. But do you think the entire front office is completely bought in to that idea and actually willing to give away assets for star players?
There’s definitely a buy-in that Young is the starter for 2025 and likely beyond. But trading away notable assets for star players is more of an opportunity cost exercise than a sign of the trust in Young.
Remember, while the Panthers have a healthy helping of draft picks this year, they still have substantial needs on defense. They also have somewhat limited salary cap space compared to a good chunk of the league.
In reference to trading for “stars,” it depends on who is available and for what.
Also, it’s important to ask: Is the trade contingent on a new contract which ultimately gives the acquired player all the leverage in a negotiation to go along with a valuable draft pick (or picks)?
It’s worth remembering that the Panthers don’t have a lot of tradable assets to acquire more picks. So, if they trade No. 8 for a “star,” their ability to upgrade another position or multiple positions (given a potential trade back) will be limited.
That’s not to say the Panthers can’t strike a blockbuster trade or a signing for a top-tier talent, but there needs to be some strategy (long term and short term) in pulling that off. They are in much better shape with cap space in 2026, so that could factor into free agency as well, if the Panthers are willing to be creative with contracts.
Ultimately, in regards to this question, it’s a way-and-see outlook.
