Panthers snag a familiar face as the team’s next GM

The Carolina Panthers wasted little time hiring a new general manager, as former assistant GM Dan Morgan assumes the top role in the front office.

Dan Morgan, the Panthers’ former No. 11 overall pick at the 2001 NFL Draft, has been the team’s assistant GM since 2021.

Before that, he had lengthy stints as a director of pro personnel for the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills.

Morgan is well-respected around the league and presents the Carolina fan base with a homegrown talent to rally around. But he faces an uphill climb given the current circumstances.

The Panthers are a mess; can new GM Dan Morgan fix it?

The Panthers enter NFL Draft season with the worst record in the league — usually good for the No. 1 overall pick. However, that is not the case, thanks to last year’s blockbuster trade for Bryce Young.

Instead, Morgan must rebuild a roster without its most premium bargaining chip. One path toward recouping assets could be a franchise tag and trade of star pass rusher Brian Burns.

Burns should fetch Carolina at least one first-round pick if a trade comes to fruition. However, moving on from a 25-year-old pass rusher in the thick of his prime might do more harm than good.

#Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns' projected market value, per Spotrac:

– $21.74 million per season
– 5-year, $108.74 million deal
– No. 5 among DEs pic.twitter.com/nOxUEqGPWI

— Cat Crave (@CatCraveBlog) January 21, 2024

The Panthers have ample cap space to fit a new contract for Burns, but neither side was particularly close in extension talks before the regular season. Trading or re-signing Burns is priority No. 2 for Morgan.

But finding a head coach trumps everything. To this point, Carolina has interviewed 11 different people for the position. That includes current Panthers staff members, such as Ejiro Evero.

Will familiarity come into play for Morgan’s decision? If so, Evero or the team’s interim head coach, Chris Tabor, fit the bill.

Given their current state, convincing an outside guy to come to the Panthers could prove difficult. That is why Morgan makes the big bucks, though. Year 1 will be a defining moment in his tenure.