North Charlotte Today

Dan Morgan, the general manager of the Panthers, is prepared for a range of possibilities in the upcoming draft. Whether staying at the eighth pick or considering a trade, he made it clear that he's evaluating all options. During a pre-draft press conference, Morgan expressed confidence in the state of the team and emphasized the importance of strengthening the roster on both offense and defense.

"Yeah, I feel really good about where we're at right now, excited about the direction that we're heading. I feel like we can really add some good pieces to the roster and continue to add to the front and build out that depth and the competition on both sides of the ball," Morgan said. "We just want to dominate the line of scrimmage, and I think that's the bottom line."

Morgan's comments come as the Panthers aim to improve their defensive lineup following a season of struggles. They have been active in free agency to address gaps, particularly on defense, and Morgan sees the draft as another opportunity to strengthen the team.

The possibility of trading back was another subject at the press conference. The team currently holds nine picks, including eight in the first five rounds, but there's a notable space between their first-round pick and their second-round selection, which is 57th overall.

Recent developments, such as the shoulder injury to Saints quarterback Derek Carr, have spurred speculation about moves in the draft order, potentially affecting the Panthers’ strategy.

Morgan acknowledged, "I mean, listen, at No. 8, if we get stuck there and we're not able to trade back if we're not in love with a player there at No. 8 and we can't trade back, then we're going to be ready for all different types of scenarios."

Reiterating his readiness for any situation that may arise, Morgan added, "So again, we're gonna be ready for all different scenarios." Now, with preparations underway, Morgan and his team are focused on making key decisions for the upcoming draft.