Five major takeaways from Panthers GM: Why Carolina traded Thielen, cut Renfrow
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Panthers traded Adam Thielen to Minnesota, gaining mid-round draft assets.
- Hunter Renfrow was cut but may return; decision now rests with the receiver.
- Young wideouts and promising defenders earned roster spots amid overhauls.
Dan Morgan has been busy over the past several days. The Panthers general manager made roughly 40 roster moves over a 72-hour span, and he might not be done slicing and dicing a depth chart that stayed largely static throughout the summer.
The former Carolina linebacker-turned-top executive made some big decisions following another forgettable preseason slate in Charlotte. From trading veteran wideout Adam Thielen to cutting former Clemson standout Hunter Renfrow, Morgan made some bets that he hopes will pay off long term for the football franchise on Mint Street.
And he’s not closing the book on contending for the playoffs, either.
“I think the possibilities of this season are endless,” Morgan said. “We’re going to write our own story here. And how we write that depends on what we do on the practice field every day, what we do off the field, and that’s what I said in the beginning. We’re going to have to earn everything. We can write our own story, but we’re only going to do that by working hard, and doing things the right way, and being detailed in everything that we do.”
Here are five takeaways from Morgan’s post-cut deadline conservation:
Vikings approached Panthers, Morgan approached Thielen
The Minnesota Vikings were interested in trading for Thielen leading up to the cut-down deadline. So, Morgan, a former player, let his veteran wide receiver know about the possibility of a trade. Thielen was excited about the prospect of a return to his home state and the team that employed him through the first decade-plus of his career.
Morgan said he told Thielen that he would try to get things done with the Vikings, but the Panthers wouldn’t give him away from a value perspective.
“It’s a unique situation that I think I wouldn’t do for just anybody,” Morgan said. “And at the same time, I’m always going to do what’s best for the Carolina Panthers as well.”
Both teams exchanged proposals, and Morgan admitted that there was a point where he didn’t feel like a deal would get done.
However, Morgan said the two sides were eventually able to make a trade happen, as the Panthers got what they wanted in the equivalent of a fourth-round pick.
“We wanted to make sure we got the compensation that we felt comfortable with before we did it,” Morgan said.
The Panthers traded Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Morgan said he thought everyone benefited from the deal.
“Adam is just the consummate pro,” Morgan said. “A guy that’s prepared the right way, took care of his body, did all the things that you’d want an NFL player to do. And he was a great example for our locker room, especially our young guys, on how to do it. So, he’ll be missed around here, and I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
The second-year GM said the training camp performances of Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker helped assist in the decision-making process. Morgan said Coker will assume the slot responsibilities with Thielen now in Minnesota, and he is excited about the prospect of his young trio working with quarterback Bryce Young.
“We utilized a lot of resources with XL, TMac, so we have guys that we’re really excited about,” Morgan said. “And I think that definitely made me feel more comfortable pulling the trigger and trading (Thielen).”
Morgan said he empathized with Thielen’s interest in returning to where it all started and potentially retiring in Minnesota. The Panthers, who saved $7 million in cap space, will move forward with McMillan, Legette, Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr., Brycen Tremayne and Dalevon Campbell at wide receiver.
The communication continues with Hunter Renfrow
Hunter Renfrow’s name was glaringly missing from the 53-man roster following the cut deadline on Tuesday. He was also not brought back on the practice squad.
But from everything Morgan and head coach Dave Canales are saying, the ball is in the wide receiver’s court. Despite having seven receivers on the active roster, Morgan and Canales want Renfrow to be part of their program in some capacity.
“Hunter, I think, is thinking through things, looking at different options,” Morgan said. “So, I think right now it’s really up to him, with what he wants to do. But we’d definitely like to have him back here at some point.”
Morgan didn’t share the details of his discussions with Renfrow since the cut deadline. But, like Canales, Morgan alluded to Renfrow figuring out what he wants to do with his career. Renfrow famously said this summer that he only wanted to play in Carolina or Las Vegas, which is where he began his career and went to a Pro Bowl in 2021.
Perhaps Renfrow is weighing other offers or other career options, but Morgan noted that a return isn’t imminent for the former Clemson standout.
ILB depth isn’t a problem for former Pro Bowl ILB
Morgan said he didn’t claim a linebacker on the waiver wire on Wednesday because he didn’t want to “make a move just to make a move.”
He said he liked their linebacking group. Morgan noted that he was encouraged by how Trevin Wallace has looked this summer. He said fellow starter Christian Rozeboom has “been everything we thought he’d be.”
“The smart veteran guy — got great instincts,” Morgan added about Rozeboom. “So, we feel good about our two starters.”
The Panthers have been developing depth linebacker Claudin Cherelus since he arrived around this time in 2023.
“He’s making strides out there, too,” Morgan said about the third-year linebacker.
He also noted that undrafted rookie Bam Martin-Scott will be a contributor on special teams as he develops as a defender. Morgan later said that Martin-Scott’s length and size (6-2, 231 lbs.) appealed to the team’s core trait preferences.
“We’re really excited about him and his future,” Morgan said about the former South Carolina Gamecocks defender.
Morgan willing to take lumps with rookie kicker
While Canales has been lukewarm in his comments about rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, Morgan offered a more polished endorsement on Thursday.
“He’s got an extremely strong leg,” Morgan said. “And (is) a guy that I felt was getting better and better every single week with the kickoffs. The placement, inside the 20. So, you just started to see him get better and better and better every single week.”
Morgan acknowledged Fitzgerald made his field goal attempts in the preseason and that mattered in his evaluation.
“We just think he’s a really good player that we can grow with,” Morgan said. “Will there be some bumps in the season? Potentially, but I think a young guy like that with talent, you’re willing to grow with. And I think that’s where we’re kind of at right now.”
Safety still has a veil of secrecy
The Panthers have made it clear that free-agent addition Tre’von Moehrig will be a massive part of the defense.
But the starting safety opposite Moehrig has yet to be named. Nick Scott started throughout the preseason’s first-team work, but rookie Lathan Ransom and Demani Richardson were summer standouts.
Morgan didn’t really offer clues, outside of offering his promising take on Moehrig and Ransom’s chemistry.
“Alongside Moehrig, I think we do have three guys that can go out there and we can play winning football with,” Morgan said. “Really excited about Ransom and what he brings out on the field. When Moehrig and him are on the field together, like you can really feel an intensity and a toughness and a physicality that they bring out there.”
Morgan is also high on Richardson and Scott.
“Demani’s made strides — he’s got really good ball skills,” Morgan said. “And then Nick Scott, he’s been in this defense forever. He knows exactly where to be, he’s a really good communicator, really good leader out there on the field, so we have guys that are more than capable of playing winning football.”
Quick hits from Panthers GM
- Morgan acknowledged the Panthers and right tackle Taylor Moton were negotiating his two-year contract extension before he spoke on the podium early in camp and emotionally expressed his desire to stay with the team.
- Morgan said left tackle Ikem Ekwonu could miss Week 1 following his weekend appendectomy surgery. But the GM said he feels good about Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen as potential fill-in replacements.
- Morgan said he wants to see Young continue to ascend as a leader and develop chemistry with his wide receivers, which he admitted takes time.
- The GM added that he plans to be involved in the waiver wire, trade talks and free agency throughout the year, alluding to not being done with the roster. He added that the team will never be content with the roster.
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM.
