Panthers among teams that 'quietly crushed' the 2026 NFL Draft

In another life, Dan Morgan was a hell of a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He played in just 59 career games— but along the way, he made a Pro Bowl appearance and was part of the team that went to the Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Nowadays, Morgan is proving even more valuable as a general manager—building up a roster that was one of the league's worst when he inherited it. While his track record hasn't been perfect, he helped guide the franchise to their first division title in a decade this past season, and have set them up for even more.

A big part of Morgan's success in the front office has been achieved through the draft, and this year may not be much different. Justin Melo at NFL Draft on SI says the Panthers are among the six teams that quietly crushed the draft, but nobody is talking about:

The Carolina Panthers took advantage of a weak NFC South last season to surprisingly win the division and advance to the postseason. To continue that momentum, general manager Dan Morgan needed to enjoy a strong offseason. That's precisely what he's done. First-round offensive tackle Monroe Freeling gives them a solution at a premium position of need, and picks like Lee Hunter, Sam Hecht, and Chris Brazzell round out a stellar draft.

Morgan also earned some praise for his 2025 draft class, which had a huge impact on Carolina's improvement last season. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and outside linebacker look like future stars, while pass rusher and tight end —among others—could be solid role players.