Panthers GM Dan Morgan Entering 2026 NFL Draft With Trade-Ready Mindset

Dan Morgan has done this before. The Carolina Panthers general manager has executed seven trades across the past two drafts, and heading into the 2026 NFL Draft later this month, he is far from finished dealing.

Speaking at Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday, Morgan told assembled media he is prepared to operate in whatever capacity the draft demands. Ready for all scenarios, he said, leaving the door wide open for additional movement when the draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh.

Carolina enters this year's draft holding the 19th overall selection, a position the franchise has never selected from in its history. Whether the Panthers stay put remains the central question surrounding their draft approach. Morgan pointed to depth concerns at safety and offensive tackle as areas of interest, though stopped short of confirming either as priority targets.

The Panthers are coming off a breakthrough season. After years of rebuilding, Carolina finished 8-9 and captured the NFC South title before making their first playoff appearance since 2017. The front office responded by investing heavily in free agency, signing at least four new starters to bolster the roster.

That success has shifted Morgan's approach in a meaningful way. For the first time in his tenure, he described having the flexibility to pursue a best-player-available strategy rather than filling immediate roster holes. We are always going to be watching the board, seeing guys fall off the board and as they fall off the board, if we feel like we need to make a move because maybe there is one person at a position that we really like that is left, then we will make a move.

The 2025 first round saw Morgan select wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick. On Tuesday, he did not rule out adding another pass-catcher in the first round a year later. The draft features a deep class at receiver, and several projected first-round talents could theoretically fall to the 19th spot.

With seven picks in hand and a roster that has no glaring holes beyond optional depth, Morgan has the luxury of patience. The rest of the league will be watching to see whether he uses it.