Dan Morgan
The Carolina Panthers truly failed to set the world on fire during the 2025 regular season. In the end, they finished with eight wins and nine losses, yet still advanced to the playoffs as the winners of the NFC South. Since Week 7, Carolina has been unable to put together two consecutive wins. They also lost the last two games of the regular season.
It wasn’t just the inconsistent play from quarterback Bryce Young; the defense, battered by injuries and departures after the 2024 season, was more like a puzzle missing a few crucial pieces to complete the picture.
What the Combine Revealed About the Carolina Panthers’ Plans
Joe Person
Dan Morgan said the Panthers would attack his old position of inside linebacker. Paying an off-ball LB is part of the plan to address the entire front 7, based on conversations I had at the combine. What I heard in Indy: t.co/eoaYqQAfba
The Combine is over. And the Combine week kicked off with a major shake-up for the Carolina Panthers, as head coach Dave Canales announced he’s handing over offensive play-calling duties to coordinator Brad Idzik.
But the moves don’t stop on the offensive side—on defense, the Panthers clearly know they’ve got work to do.
General Manager Dan Morgan opened Tuesday’s press conference by congratulating Luke Kuechly on his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. According to The Athletic’s Joe Person, that set the stage perfectly for a reporter to ask Morgan, himself a former Panthers linebacker, about how the team plans to address the linebacker position this offseason.
“In terms of free agency and the draft, that’s a position we’re going to attack,” Morgan said. “We’re looking for guys who are leaders, playmakers, and culture fits for us. So we’re fired up to attack that and put in the work.”
In his February 28 article, Person wrote: “In fact, several folks I spoke with expect the Panthers to be in attack mode along their entire front seven.”
He added, “Morgan has made it clear the team needs to beef up what’s been an anemic pass rush since he was promoted from assistant GM. But there’s also a glaring need at off-ball linebacker, and at least one agent predicted the Panthers would sign a prominent linebacker in free agency.”
Jeremy Fowler Names Ideal Fit For the Panthers’ Defense
Even Jeremy Fowler seems convinced that the Carolina Panthers will focus their offseason moves squarely on the defensive side of the ball. In an ESPN article, Fowler noted:
“Don’t be surprised if Carolina makes some big moves on defense for the second consecutive year. The Panthers will be looking for edge-rush help and might be willing to offer a lucrative contract. They also need reinforcements at linebacker and slot corner. Devin Lloyd would be an ideal fit right in the middle of their defense.”
It’s a good but not great group of free-agent linebackers. Beyond Devin Lloyd, the Panthers could also have their eye on Devin Bush.
Morgan knows the Panthers need to add another edge rusher to replace free-agent D.J. Wonnum, who never quite clicked in Carolina after battling health issues following his quad surgery. At the Combine in Indianapolis, Morgan was asked directly about Bradley Chubb, the veteran pass rusher with ties to defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero who’s now free to sign with any team after being released by the Miami Dolphins.
“Still performing at a really high level. He’s had plenty of sack production throughout his career,” Morgan said. “Just a really solid player. That’s definitely something we’ll continue to monitor and explore.”
Free agency kicks off on March 11, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET. That’s when we’ll start to see which defensive hole the Panthers tackle first—and maybe even get the first peek into the crystal ball at where the big black cats from Charlotte will sink their claws in the draft, set for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh.