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Panthers GM Dan Morgan: There's no rule against taking a WR in first round three straight years
TL;DR
Panthers GM Dan Morgan stated there is no rule against selecting a wide receiver in the first round for three consecutive years. He emphasized that the team will draft the best player available at their No. 19 pick, regardless of past selections.
The Panthers visited with some of the top wide receiver prospects in this year's draft class and those meetings have led to questions about whether they will actually use a first-round pick on a wideout for the third straight season.
Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan fielded that exact query at a Tuesday press conference. Morgan took Xavier Legette in 2024 and offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan was last year's top pick, but Morgan said that their presence isn't going to keep Carolina from tripling down if the board falls that way at No. 19.
"No. I think with anything, we're going to take the best player," Morgan said, via the team's website. "So if the best player we feel is that at 19, I wouldn't hesitate to draft another wideout. I don't think there's a rule that says you can't draft a wide receiver three years in a row. So I'm not really going to box us in and say we're not going to draft him."
Morgan is correct about the lack of a rule prohibiting the use of three straight first-round picks on receivers. The Lions did it with Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams from 2003-2005 and went 16-32 over those seasons. They then went back to the well in 2007 to take Calvin Johnson in a move that worked out far better than the previous three choices.
The Lions' history is unlikely to have much bearing on Morgan's ultimate decision, especially if there's a player available that the Panthers believe will help quarterback Bryce Young continue to ascend in his third season.
Q&A
What did Panthers GM Dan Morgan say about drafting wide receivers in the first round?
Dan Morgan confirmed there is no rule against drafting wide receivers in the first round for three consecutive years and stated the team will choose the best player available at No. 19.
Which wide receivers did the Panthers draft in the previous two years?
The Panthers selected Xavier Legette in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillan, the offensive rookie of the year, as their top pick in 2023.
What is the historical context of drafting wide receivers in consecutive years?
The Detroit Lions previously drafted wide receivers Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, and Mike Williams from 2003 to 2005, and later selected Calvin Johnson in 2007, showcasing mixed results from such strategies.