The Carolina Panthers took a step forward in the right direction in 2024. They more than doubled their win total from a season ago. Head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan look like keepers and have earned themselves more time as they build out the roster.
After allowing more points than any other team in the NFL last season, the need for improvement on the defensive side of the ball is rather obvious in Carolina. When asked about it during the NFL Scouting Combine, Morgan revealed which specific positions they are looking to make upgrades at.
Dan Morgan's Priority List 📊
— Michael Bell (@avl_mike) February 26, 2025
1. Interior D-Line
2. Outside LB
3. Safety
4. Corner pic.twitter.com/FJZbLJbVf2
Dan Morgan Reveals Panthers' Team Need This Offseason
Morgan revealed the interior defensive line and outside linebacker as the main points of emphasis in the offseason. He then added safety and the corner to round out their needs.
The emphasis on the interior d-line is understandable. The Panthers arguably had the worst defensive tackle unit in the league. Shy Tuttle and LaBryan Ray were disasters, both ranking in the bottom ten of their position, per Pro Football Focus. A'Shawn Robinson and DeShawn Williams graded poorly during their defensive snaps as well.
With free agency officially kicking off in two weeks, the Panthers are projected to have $24.9 million in cap space per Over The Cap. This will likely go down as the team makes cuts, contract restructures, and extensions.
That is why the draft will be the main avenue for improvement for the Panthers. They have nine total selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, including eight in the first five rounds. Armed with the No. 8 overall pick, the Panthers will likely address one of these needs with that selection and look to round out the roster with their later picks.