Like every year, the Panthers have potential money-saving cuts at their disposal and other ways to create more cap space, which we\u2019ll get to in the coming weeks. But we\u2019ll start with a bigger-picture view of the Panthers\u2019 most pressing offseason priorities.<\/p>\n
Improve the pass rush<\/p>\n
Beefing up the pass rush, especially from the edge, seems to have an annual spot on Carolina\u2019s offseason to-do list. The Panthers finished with an NFL-worst 27 sacks in 2023, when they didn\u2019t 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 \u201925. 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.<\/p>\n
But the Panthers didn\u2019t 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\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Morgan made it clear more is needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur pass rush \u2026 wasn\u2019t up to par,\u201d Morgan said during an appearance on WFNZ \u2018s \u201cMac & Bone\u201d show.<\/a> \u201cWe had the second-lowest pressure rate in the league. Obviously, that\u2019s not acceptable. And if you\u2019re not protecting the quarterback and not affecting the quarterback, you\u2019re not going to win many games in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n Find a left tackle stopgap<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s injury. Now it\u2019s a necessity, whether through the draft or by signing a swing tackle in free agency.<\/p>\n Sign an off-ball linebacker who can cover<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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\u2019 game-winning drive. Trevin Wallace also failed to take a step forward before a shoulder injury ended his season.<\/p>\n Even if he brings back Rozeboom on a team-friendly deal, Morgan \u2014 the Panthers\u2019 middle linebacker during their first Super Bowl season \u2014 will look for help here.<\/p>\n \n Christian Rozeboom led the Panthers with 122 tackles in 2025 and added 7 tackles for loss and an interception. (Bob Donnan \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n Start grooming a new QB2<\/p>\n Seven hundred words into this and we\u2019ve yet to mention Bryce Young, whose improvement in his third season helped snap a seven-year playoff drought. While it\u2019s 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\u2019ll be 39 in October and Morgan indicated he wants to get younger at the position.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/USATSI_27865611-scaled.jpg\")
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