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Panthers GM Dan Morgan may slightly disagree with HC Dave Canales' thoughts on 19th pick
TL;DR
Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan appears to have a differing view from head coach Dave Canales regarding the 19th overall pick in the upcoming draft. While Canales believes in immediate contributions, Morgan acknowledges that some players may take longer to develop.
Maybe depth is still on the table after all for the Carolina Panthers and their 2026 first-round pick.
During the NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. two weeks ago, head coach Dave Canales told reporters that he doesn't believe in drafting for depth—at least as far as this year's 19th overall selection goes. But president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan, who held his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday morning, seems to slightly disagree.
"I understand what Coach is saying in terms of—obviously, you want your first-round pick to be able to come in and contribute immediately. So, yeah, I'm kinda with him on that," Morgan replied when asked of Canales' comments.
"You want your first-round pick to play, but there's different scenarios to where maybe it takes a guy a little longer to develop, and he may not contribute right away. With some of the picks at different positions, it may take a little longer for those guys to develop, for sure."
That depth debate may be pertinent to Carolina's situation at both of their offensive tackle spots. Their two starting-caliber left tackles, Ikem Ekwonu and Rasheed Walker, are slated to become free agents in 2027 while right tackle Taylor Moton could be a cap casualty following what will be his 10th NFL campaign.
If Morgan and the Panthers go that route with the 19th pick next Thursday night, some potential targets could include Georgia's Monroe Freeling, Alabama's Kadyn Proctor, Clemson's Blake Miller and Utah's Caleb Lomu.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers GM Dan Morgan talks on drafting for depth with 19th pick
Q&A
What did Panthers GM Dan Morgan say about the 19th overall pick?
Dan Morgan indicated that while he agrees with the need for immediate contributions from a first-round pick, he recognizes that some players may require more time to develop.
How does Dave Canales view drafting for depth in the NFL?
Dave Canales expressed that he does not believe in drafting for depth, particularly concerning the Panthers' 19th overall selection this year.
What are the implications of the Panthers' draft strategy for 2026?
The Panthers' draft strategy may focus on selecting players who can contribute immediately, but also consider the potential for longer development times for certain positions.
