Panthers GM Dan Morgan Breaks Down Carolina’s 2026 NFL Draft Class

The Carolina Panthers spent the offseason loading their defense in free agency. Dan Morgan came on the show to walk through what that approach freed up in the draft.

The headliner pick was Monroe Freeling at 19.

"Twenty-one years old, six-seven, 34 and three-quarter arm," Morgan said. "You look at his pass protection, you look at his run blocking. He's only a one-year starter. But he's a guy with a huge upside. A guy that we felt like we could take and he can come in here and compete to start. We're excited about him, man."

The case for Freeling went beyond measurables.

"He definitely has a lot of potential, high ceiling, and a guy that I think's really going to ascend once he gets going," Morgan said.

Rich asked the obvious. What does Freeling do for the Carolina offense?

"It's hard to find left tackles," Morgan said. "It's hard to find guys that big and that athletic to play left tackle. Obviously we have Icky coming off an injury. We signed Rasheed Walker. I think your offensive line can never be too strong."

The Panthers' draft strategy hinged on whether Freeling would still be on the board at 19, and Morgan admitted it almost did not happen.

"He would usually go pretty early in the mock drafts that I would do," Morgan said. "Maybe a time here or there I would get him, but for the most part, these left tackles, especially that big and athletic, they're going to go a lot earlier than where we thought he, where we took him."

The free-agency moves on defense, in Morgan's framing, opened up the draft board.

"It just so happened, we want to take the best player whether it's in free agency or the draft," Morgan said. "We just want to add really talented football players to our roster. You saw what we did with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, and same thing here. Monroe Freeling, best player available on our board, we take him."

The day-two picks followed the same philosophy.

"Lee Hunter, we thought very highly of him," Morgan said. "A big body that's super strong at the point of attack. Win the game up front."

Chris Brazell was the speed option on offense.

"A big-range receiver with 4.37 speed," Morgan said. "He can make big plays down the field. He can run routes. He's so flexible and loose, and he can just do so many things for our offense to open the vertical game up in our offense."

The corner Will Levis got the third-day signature.

"Super tough, competitive, feisty out there," Morgan said. "He's big and he's long. He fits our prototype for corners. Just a guy that we held in high regard."

The combined receiver room, in Morgan's framing, is now stacked.

"Brazell to go with Leggett, Coker, the way he came on at the end of the season last year, your offensive Rookie of the Year, Terrace Marshall, McMillan, Jaycee Horn sitting there as well," Rich said.

Morgan closed where every draft press conference closes.

"We're extremely excited about our draft class, our free agency class, and where we're headed as a franchise," Morgan said.