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In another life, Dan Morgan was a hell of a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He played in just 59 career games— but along the way, he made a Pro Bowl appearance and was part of the team that went to the Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Nowadays, Morgan is proving even more valuable as a general manager—building up a roster that was one of the league's worst when he inherited it. While his track record hasn't been perfect, he helped guide the franchise to their first division title in a decade this past season, and have set them up for even more.
A big part of Morgan's success in the front office has been achieved through the draft, and this year may not be much different. Justin Melo at NFL Draft on SI says the Panthers are among the six teams that quietly crushed the draft, but nobody is talking about:
Morgan also earned some praise for his 2025 draft class, which had a huge impact on Carolina's improvement last season. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and outside linebacker Nic Scourton look like future stars, while pass rusher Princely Umanmielen and tight end Mitchell Evans—among others—could be solid role players.
This time around, the Panthers did an excellent job of balancing immediate needs with long-term ones—as well as taking advantage of the strengths of this particular draft class. They started with a high-value position at left tackle, taking Freeling all the way down at No. 19 overall, and sprinkled in some other steals for their roster holes.
We'll have to see how this group performs on the field before rendering any final judgment. But if they're as good as advertised, the Panthers may be just one more strong offseason away from serious contender territory.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers earn more praise for a strong class
Continue reading...
Nowadays, Morgan is proving even more valuable as a general manager—building up a roster that was one of the league's worst when he inherited it. While his track record hasn't been perfect, he helped guide the franchise to their first division title in a decade this past season, and have set them up for even more.
A big part of Morgan's success in the front office has been achieved through the draft, and this year may not be much different. Justin Melo at NFL Draft on SI says the Panthers are among the six teams that quietly crushed the draft, but nobody is talking about:
Morgan also earned some praise for his 2025 draft class, which had a huge impact on Carolina's improvement last season. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and outside linebacker Nic Scourton look like future stars, while pass rusher Princely Umanmielen and tight end Mitchell Evans—among others—could be solid role players.
This time around, the Panthers did an excellent job of balancing immediate needs with long-term ones—as well as taking advantage of the strengths of this particular draft class. They started with a high-value position at left tackle, taking Freeling all the way down at No. 19 overall, and sprinkled in some other steals for their roster holes.
We'll have to see how this group performs on the field before rendering any final judgment. But if they're as good as advertised, the Panthers may be just one more strong offseason away from serious contender territory.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers earn more praise for a strong class
Continue reading...
