Joining us on the Easter Automotive Group hotline as promised is Dan Morgan, the general manager of the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers. Uh, Dan, first of all, thank you for, for taking the time. I know it’s a, a busy time on your calendar right after the season. Um, we’ll, we’ll start with kind of unexpected news coming out of the, uh, the postseason, the unfortunate injury to Ikey Akwanu. Uh, how much does, does Ikey’s injury maybe change your plan if you had a plan in place for this offseason? Yeah, he, uh, he’s getting surgery. He’s actually flying out. Uh, I think he flew out today to get surgery. Um, obviously, unfortunate news, um, you know, I feel bad for him. Uh, he was having a good year. I think he was trending in a really good direction. Um, obviously, we have to, you know, collect the details after the surgery and You know, just figure out where he is and, um, take it week by week, month by month. And, um, you know, obviously, um, from my seat, uh, we’re gonna have to have a plan, um, if he’s not able to, you know, be, be available for the season. Um, so yeah, so yeah, we’ll, uh, we’ll do our part on, on our side and we’ll scour, you know, the free agent market, uh, you know, along with the NFL draft as well. So, yeah, we’ll, uh, we’ll definitely have to address that if we feel like we need to. From, from one injury to uh, to another, are, are you comfortable depending on Jonathan Brooks in the running back room coming off the, the two injuries that he suffered in the last two years? Yeah, you know, Jonathan’s making a lot of progress. Uh, he’s put a lot of work in. He’s, he’s in there every day rehabbing. Um, he’s getting better every single day. Um, he was actually out on the field, you know, towards the end of the season, running some routes and looking good, uh, hitting some good times on the GPS out there. Uh, so I’m really proud of him and the work he’s put in. Uh, he’s looking really good. Um, you know, and then having, having Chuba and having, uh, Trevor Etienne, um, you know, we feel like we have a good stable of backs, but that doesn’t mean that, uh, we won’t be looking, um, to upgrade there as well. So, and that goes for every position on our team, you know, we’re just going to look to add competition at every level. We’re talking with Dan Morgan, Panthers GM on the Easter Automotive Group hotline. Uh, flipping sides of the ball here for a second, uh, from your perspective on, on, you know, looking at roster management and everything, why was, was getting off the field on 3rd down so tough for your defense this year? Yeah, you know, I think, um, I think it was definitely frustrating and, um, you know, I think at the end of the day, that’s, that’s stuff that our defensive staff is really going to look into and, and myself on the personnel side, you know, it’s a team effort, it’s a group effort, and, uh, we’ll get together and, and we’ll figure that out. And, You know, we’ll address, uh, we’ll address those issues and look into those issues this offseason. If you add to the edge rushers this offseason, does it, does it make more sense to maybe go veteran knowing that you, you have the young guys from last year’s draft scoring and Unan Melen and, and maybe to, to get some diversity? Yeah, um, I think that’s definitely a possibility to, you know, look in free agency, see what’s out there. And, you know, there’s also the potential to double dip as well. Um, you know, you can never have too many pass rushers, um, to get to your point, getting off the field on 3rd down, you know, I think that is part of it is getting to the passer and affecting the passer and, Uh, we’ll look for every avenue to, to upgrade, uh, on the edges and, um, be able to get to the quarterback on a more consistent basis. Looking at the roster, it appears off-ball linebacker might also be, be something you’re interested in, which is really exciting for, for me because I want to see what Dan Morgan values in an off-ball linebacker. So, is there, is there a priority list or, you know, uh, you know, uh, something you’re looking specifically if you, if you are adding that type of player in a draft or, or in free agency? Yeah, I think at linebacker, obviously, you know, each offseason, we’ve tried to address our needs and, you know, with the salary cap and you only have so much draft capital, um, you know, you can only do what you can do, you know, one step at a time. So, uh, we’ll definitely address, you know, those needs at inside linebacker, outside linebacker, and some other spots that we may feel like we need to improve upon. And, You know, at linebacker, you really, you want to find an, an instinctual guy, a guy that, you know, has some size, has some length and some range and play speed out there on the field that can really make some impact plays. So, um, yeah, I think we’ll definitely be looking at, looking into that and, um, identifying those guys that we think can help us. Uh, we’re talking with Dan Morgan, GM of the NFC South champion. I just like saying that, uh, uh, Carolina Panthers. Um, I’m sure he likes hearing it. Um, Now that it’s public knowledge that, that you’re picking up, uh, Bryce Young’s fifth-year option, uh, is there urgency to pay as many guys as you can for the, the period that you still have your quarterback on, on the super discounted rookie contract? Um, I don’t know that we’re really looking at it like that. Uh, myself and Brand Tillis and Coach Canales, we still have to get together. It’s still early, um, after the season. So we’ll get together and we’ll talk about the roster and, you know, we’ll figure out, you know, where and who we have to pay and, Um, we’ll get together that, you know, long range, long-range outlook for, for the team and just see where we’re at moving forward. You, you brought up Brandt Tillis. Uh, you know, it was reported that, that he was interviewing with Atlanta for that presidential football job. Uh, did, did you, did you, did you give the, the offer, the Godfather offer? Were you calling up, up, David Tepper? Like, what’s your reaction when you, you see Brandt Tillis interviewing with another team? Yeah, you know, obviously really happy for Brand and, um, you know, I love working with Brand every single day. Um, I feel like me and him have a lot of chemistry together. Uh, we’ve developed a really good friendship in our short period of time together. Um, just my initial reaction was just, yeah, I don’t want to lose, you know, a friend and a really good work. Workmate, um, but also at the same time, really happy for him and, and the opportunity that he was able to get. For, for the 2nd straight year, I, I think you and, and Brant and, and, you know, your entire staff, uh, really found a gem in the undrafted free agent world. Jalen Coker obviously blossomed in the, in the postseason, but I thought he showed signs last year and also Corey Thornton on the defensive side of the ball. Uh, this year. Uh, can you take us through the process of how you, you discover those, those diamonds in the rough that, you know, so many other teams overlook? You know, I think it’s really, you know, obviously, we have some really good scouts. Um, we have some, you know, really good process in terms of the way that we want to attack, uh, undrafted free agency. And, you know, we’re looking for traits. Um, we’re looking for guys that have had some production. Whether it’s a defensive back like Corey Thornton, having some ball production, and then a guy like Jalen Coker, um, you know, you could see those ball skills that he had and he made some unbelievable plays in college and frankly, surprised both those guys didn’t get drafted. Um, So yeah, we have a good process in place and I, I would say to really sum it up, you know, we’re just looking for traits, and we’re looking for some production on that side too. So, um, again, our scouts do a really good job and, um, uh, we, we have a really good group that, you know, collaborates and, and, uh, identifies those guys. Obviously, uh, Coker wasn’t available at the beginning of the year and, and that may contribute to this next question here. Uh, did you think the offense lacked a, a home run threat where, you know, you almost had to go 8 or 9 plays plus to score when, when, you know, sometimes it’s nice to get that 60-yarder and, and shorten that drive a little bit? Yeah, you know, I think, uh, uh, Jimmy Horn kind of gave us a little bit of that element towards the, the end of the season. Um, I do think that’s something that we are missing on the offense a little bit is where we can just get the ball out to a guy and he can take a five-yard catch and take it the distance or make a few. Guys miss and come up with a big play. So, uh, you know, that’s another spot that I think that we’ll, we’ve identified and, and we’ll be looking for in the future. Dan Morgan, Panthers GM connecting with us here on the drive. Uh, Dan, if you had to pick one, what’s the, the biggest need on this roster, you know, right here on the precipice of a long offseason? Um, I don’t know that I would just identify one. you know, I, I feel like we need a lot. Um, I feel like what we need is just more playmakers, more guys, whether on the defensive side of the ball that can make impact plays and take the ball away. And then on the offensive side, guys that are, that are touchdown makers, guys that can get the ball in the end zone, whether in the red zone, whether, Um, like I said before, taking a, a short catch and taking it the distance. So, uh, we’ll just be looking for, for playmakers and, um, you know, and go attack it. I, I’m not sure if you care about this sort of thing, but, uh, the voting for, for Rookie of the Year are going on now. Uh, can you give us your campaign speech for your guy, McMillan? I mean, me personally, I don’t think it’s close. Um, you know, I think T Mac, what he’s done as a rookie, um, staying healthy, being as productive as he was, uh, demanding double coverage, um, safety’s cheating over to him. Um, he’s everything we thought he was when we drafted him at 8. And I’m just, you know, really proud of him and his work ethic and, You know, the player and the person that he is. So I think it’s a shoo-in, but, you know, crazier, crazier things have happened, like, you know, Derrek Brown not making the Pro Bowl, which is, which is something that I think is absolutely crazy when you watch the tape of him every week. So, uh, we’ll see what happens. Uh, last one for you. We appreciate the time as always, every time you can jump on the show. Um, I don’t know, I don’t know if we celebrate the, uh, the, the front offices in the NFL enough. So, Uh, I mean, the Mike Jackson trade, some of the undrafted free agents we talked about, even, even T Mac in the first. Uh, what, what move are you most proud of? If we’re putting together the Dan Morgan front office combined, right, in the group effort as you mentioned, but highlight reel, you always want your best play to start the highlight film. Uh, what player are you putting first? Uh, I don’t know that I can just single out one of them. Um, I’m just obviously really proud of a lot of the guys that we’ve acquired. Um, I have a really good team around me. Um, I only think, you know, as the GM I think you’re only as good as the people around you. And, um, I just try to surround myself with a, with a strong team and, uh, people that want to compete, people that want to win. And I have a passion for the Panthers organization. So, um, yeah, I can’t just identify one of those. I’m, I’m definitely proud of a lot of those guys. Dan, we appreciate the time. Uh, like I said, as always, and, uh, good luck this offseason. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
