CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While the Carolina Panthers’ current defensive coordinator has interviewed for head-coaching jobs, their former defensive coordinator lost his job in Buffalo.

There’s been several days of fireworks in western New York in the aftermath of the firing of Sean McDermott and the promotion of Brandon Beane, the Bills’ general manager who began his career in Carolina. It’s been quiet by comparison in Charlotte, outside of Ejiro Evero’s interviews with the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, and the start of Tetairoa McMillan’s expected romp through awards season.

But there’s plenty of work to come at Bank of America Stadium, in addition to what’s already been done. At his end-of-season news conference last week, general manager Dan Morgan said the Panthers already had about 600 players on their draft board.

In terms of preparing for free agency, the Panthers are currently projected to have $11.1 million in salary-cap space, according to Over the Cap. That figure ranks 18th in the NFL and third in the NFC South — behind the Atlanta Falcons ($18.2 million) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($16.6 million) but ahead of the perennially cap-strapped New Orleans Saints, who sit $20.3 million above the cap.

Like every year, the Panthers have potential money-saving cuts at their disposal and other ways to create more cap space, which we’ll get to in the coming weeks. But we’ll start with a bigger-picture view of the Panthers’ most pressing offseason priorities.

Improve the pass rush

Beefing up the pass rush, especially from the edge, seems to have an annual spot on Carolina’s offseason to-do list. The Panthers finished with an NFL-worst 27 sacks in 2023, when they didn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead all season so never saw opponents trying to pass to catch up. After trading Brian Burns the following offseason, the Panthers tied for the third-fewest sacks in 2024 and ’25. Morgan drafted a pair of second-day edge rushers last year, and second-rounder Nic Scourton tied Derrick Brown for the team lead with five sacks.

But the Panthers didn’t get much at all from D.J. Wonnum or Pat Jones, who played in only four games before undergoing back surgery. The Panthers could try to take a big swing at free-agent Trey Hendrickson, but Jaelan Phillips is younger and had one of his best seasons in Miami under Vic Fangio, whose scheme is similar to Evero’s.

Morgan made it clear more is needed.

“Our pass rush … wasn’t up to par,” Morgan said during an appearance on WFNZ ‘s “Mac & Bone” show. “We had the second-lowest pressure rate in the league. Obviously, that’s not acceptable. And if you’re not protecting the quarterback and not affecting the quarterback, you’re not going to win many games in this league.”

Find a left tackle stopgap

The Panthers have been mum on a recovery timeline for Ikem Ekwonu, who underwent surgery last week after rupturing his patellar tendon in the wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Retired Saints and Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, who came back from the same surgery in 2016, predicted Ekwonu would miss at least the first month of the season.

Morgan has already invested a lot in the offensive line, and has a decision to make on free-agent center Cade Mays. Morgan said he planned to add to the line even before Ekwonu’s injury. Now it’s a necessity, whether through the draft or by signing a swing tackle in free agency.

Sign an off-ball linebacker who can cover

The Panthers signed Christian Rozeboom as a depth linebacker last offseason, but the former Ram was thrust into the starting lineup due to Josey Jewell’s concussion issues. Rozeboom, a free agent this winter, was solid against the run, leading the team with 122 tackles and coming up with three takeaways. But he was a liability in coverage, which Matthew Stafford exposed on the Rams’ game-winning drive. Trevin Wallace also failed to take a step forward before a shoulder injury ended his season.

Even if he brings back Rozeboom on a team-friendly deal, Morgan — the Panthers’ middle linebacker during their first Super Bowl season — will look for help here.

Christian Rozeboom led the Panthers with 122 tackles in 2025 and added 7 tackles for loss and an interception. (Bob Donnan / Imagn Images)

Start grooming a new QB2

Seven hundred words into this and we’ve yet to mention Bryce Young, whose improvement in his third season helped snap a seven-year playoff drought. While it’s not at the top of the priority list, the Panthers are talking about developing another QB behind Young. Andy Dalton has been a strong mentor for Young, but he’ll be 39 in October and Morgan indicated he wants to get younger at the position.

As for what he’s looking for, Morgan told The Fan Upstate: “I would say we would definitely put a premium on the athlete, just being able to escape the pocket, extend plays and make plays with his legs.”

Bring in a speedy safety with range

This is another one that I’m pretty sure was on the list last year, when the Panthers in fact addressed the position in free agency and the draft. And while Tre’von Moehrig and Lathan Ransom were good pickups, both are physical players whose strengths are run support, arriving at the ball in a bad mood and blitzing effectively.

The Panthers could use a rangy, post safety to patrol the back end in Evero’s single-high looks. Nick Scott, a pending free agent, had that spot last season when he started 17 games and racked up 111 tackles, both career highs. Dave Canales loves Scott’s leadership, and — like Rozeboom — I could see him back in a rotational role.

Lock up Jalen Coker long term

The Panthers traded up one spot to draft South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick in 2024, then brought in former Holy Cross receiver Jalen Coker as an undrafted free agent. By the end of their second seasons, Coker had surpassed Legette as the WR2 in a move that should have happened earlier.

Rise to WR2

YEARGTGTRECYDSYPCTD

11

43

33

394

11.9

3

11

46

32

478

14.9

2

Coker, who had nine receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in the playoff loss to the Rams, is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. So the Panthers could offer him a one-year deal at the league minimum and Coker wouldn’t be able to negotiate with other teams. But why not reward a player who heeded Canales’ message to get in better shape, and do so before his price goes up?

“Credit to him. He put the work in. He got his body right, reshaped his body. He looks like a different player, and it shows on the field,” Morgan said.

Go YAC hunting

The Panthers will look to continue to stack playmakers around Young, with fans often asking about tight end. But I get the sense the Panthers are more interested in adding a fast, shifty wideout they can use on jets sweeps and bubble screens, and count on for yards after catch. It’s how Canales often used rookie Jimmy Horn this season.

“I do think that is something that we are missing on the offense a little bit,” Morgan told WRAL last week as he made his radio rounds. “Where we can just get the ball out to a guy and he can take a 5-yard catch and take it the distance, or make a few guys miss and come up with a big play.”