What Panthers GM Dan Morgan said about trades during NFL draft

The 2026 NFL Draft begins tonight—and with it, the Carolina Panthers' best chance to really upgrade their depth chart before next season begins.

Already, the Panthers have made significant investments to their defensive front-seven—signing linebackers Devin Lloyd and Jaelen Phillips to lucrative deals in free agency. And now, president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan has to fill out the remaining roster holes—including at safety, wide receiver and tight end.

To get the job done, Morgan may need to be aggressive in pursuing trades—both up and down the board. Here's what Morgan had to say about his philosophy on draft day trades, per team reporter Darin Gantt:

"Philosophically, we have an open-minded mindset... We're open to anything, whether it's moving back, whether it's moving up, if we feel like a guy can be an impact player for us, I do think all options are on the table. . . . It's really no different in terms of the process. We're gonna be ready for any and all scenarios that present themselves..."

Last year, Morgan was especially aggressive trading up for his second- and third- picks. Both were used on edge rushers—Nic Scourton of Texas A&M and Princely Umanmielen of Ole Miss.

This year, the move may be trading down for more capital—depending on how the board plays out. If Morgan and head coach Dave Canales feel they're already close to contending, they can afford to take a more long-term approach to this draft class rather than targeting immediate needs.

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