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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — On the surface, it would seem the Carolina Panthers are in a tough spot going into this week’s NFL Combine. Fresh off a 2–15 season, they have major holes to fill. And unlike in 2023, they don’t have the luxury of having a first-round pick, let alone the top pick they used last year to take Bryce Young.
But if you think new Carolina General Manager Dan Morgan is sweating that deficiency, you’d better think again.
“I mean, we have the 33rd pick, which is essentially a late first-round pick,” Morgan said at his introductory press conference earlier this month. “We are just going to draft good players.”
Fortunately for Morgan and the Panthers, by the time it’s their turn to pick, a ton of talent in a variety of positions will still be available.
The big question is, what type of player should they take first?
“We need to find those leaders, those competitors,” Morgan said. “We need to find those dogs.”
Okay. Let me rephrase that. What position should they take first?
“I’m talking about today. I want to win today,” new head coach Dave Canales said at that same presser.
Okay, Mr. Canales, then priority number one should be getting your franchise QB some help. Young took a ton of criticism last year, but in his defense, he didn’t have much to work with. In fact, an aging Adam Thielen was the only Carolina player to finish in the top 50 in the league receiving yards.
“It’s about good football,” Canales would go on to say.
Hence why you also can’t overlook the guys up front either. The team’s offensive line was supposed to be a strength last year. It wasn’t, with a lot of the blame going to Bradley Bozeman and Ickey Ekwonu. Carolina could use this opportunity to seek out their replacements.
“We have a lot of guys in that locker room that are passionate about football but we want to get more,” Morgan explained.
Which is why despite the success last year, Carolina is also looking to make some upgrades on its defense. Regardless of what happens to Brian Burns, getting another pass rusher is a must as Carolina finished dead last in the league at generating pressure on the quarterback.
“To put it simply, we got to roll our sleeves up and get to work,” Morgan said.
Couldn’t have said it any better. Because even though the NFL draft doesn’t start until April, the Carolina Panthers are officially on the clock.
