After years of underwhelming results and front-office instability, the Carolina Panthers entered the 2025 offseason facing low expectations from both fans and national media. With new head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan taking the reins, the team began making strategic moves to reshape its identity and culture. While ESPN and other national outlets issued a modest “C” grade for the Panthers’ offseason, local voices—like Tim Donnelly of ESPN’s 99.9 The Fan in Raleigh—offered a more detailed and grounded perspective. This article takes a closer look at those insights and examines whether that average grade really tells the full story.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Still, for fans closely watching the rebuild, that grade might feel unfair. Both Canales and Morgan have injected the organization with new energy and optimism. Their commitment to a cultural reset has been matched by several key personnel moves. In the draft, the Panthers landed wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan—a highly touted playmaker many analysts believed would be taken earlier. His addition brings much-needed talent to the offense. On the other side of the ball, the acquisition of safety Tre’von Moehrig has already made an impact, bringing leadership and grit to a secondary looking to establish a tougher identity. These moves suggest that Carolina is moving in the right direction, even if national pundits haven’t caught on yet.
That said, not every move was met with enthusiasm. One widely criticized signing was defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton. Analysts labeled the deal an overpay, pointing to his career total of 8.5 sacks and a modest 7% pass-rush win rate. Without a disruptive force like Chris Jones—who drew double-teams in Kansas City—some question whether Wharton can replicate his success. However, Panthers fans were quick to defend the move, noting that Wharton will now line up next to Derrick Brown, one of the league’s most dominant interior linemen. Brown recorded 103 tackles last season and consistently creates pressure. With Brown absorbing attention on the line, Wharton could still thrive in a complementary role.
Donnelly acknowledged that a "C" grade would be understandable if it reflected specific concerns—like the lack of a true center-field safety or the financial risk of making Jaycee Horn, a talented but injury-prone corner, briefly the highest-paid at his position. However, he stressed the importance of context. These critiques shouldn’t be reduced to surface-level narratives pushed by analysts who don’t closely follow the team.
One move that did earn near-universal praise was the signing of running back Rico Dowdle. His physical style and potential as a breakout contributor give the Panthers added flexibility on offense. Still, Donnelly emphasized that none of these moves will truly change the national perception of the team until they find a franchise quarterback and return to the form they had during the Cam Newton era. The foundation may be forming, but consistent winning is the only way to command respect again—both from fans and from the broader football world.