CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — The Carolina Panthers are returning to Indianapolis for another NFL Combine next week.
They’re fresh off another year in which they didn’t make the playoffs, but there’s a sense now that they’ve started to turn the corner.
“We know where we are headed, we know what direction we are headed.” Carolina GM Dan Morgan told us earlier this month.
No doubt about it, Morgan and company have momentum after closing out the year with two wins in their final three games, but they understand in order to keep it, they’ve got to play the week right. It all starts with identifying their biggest needs.
“You know the draft, it really sets up for us to attack those areas on the front of the defense and just the defense as a whole,” Morgan said.
Holes, yes. There were plenty of them on that side of the ball for Carolina last year. Coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit was 26th in sacks, second to last in creating turnovers, and dead last in points off of turnovers.
The Panthers need an edge rusher. But there’s also cause to address their lack of depth at linebacker, tackle and cornerback.
“We’re looking for passionate football players and playmakers on both sides of the ball. You know guys that can make plays,” said Morgan.
We’re so glad you said that Dan, because there’s plenty of room for improvement on that side of the ball too. You’ve got a quarterback but you still need a top wide receiver, not to mention, potentially a backup running back with Miles Sanders likely on his way out.
“We’re just going to look to get better in every avenue and try to create the most competition that we can,” Morgan said.
Coming off a season in which they gave up a record amount of points to their opposition, the pressure is on. As if they needed the reminder, the NFL Draft is only two short months away.