11:10am: Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown and Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby were among the candidates to earn second interviews with the Panthers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Morgan also remains in contention for the job.
9:05am: The Panthers continue to make progress with their GM search. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the organization has “quietly” started their second round of interviews.
It’s uncertain which candidates have earned second interviews, but Jones points out that assistant GM Dan Morgan entered the interview process as a “strong candidate” for the gig. A first-round pick by the Panthers back in 2001, Morgan returned to the Panthers in 2021, when he was hired as Scott Fitterer‘s assistant GM.
While Fitterer was let go after the 2023 campaign, Morgan was still expected to be a contender for the open job. There were also whispers that the Panthers cold consider pairing Morgan with a football ops-side hire, but it sounds like the executive is a serious candidate for the full-time gig.
After officially ending his playing career in 2009, Morgan pursued front office jobs. He spent eight years in Seattle, working his way up from scouting intern to director of pro personnel. He took on that same role with the Bills in 2018 and spent three seasons in Buffalo.
The new GM will be tasked with turning around a franchise that doesn’t own its first-round pick despite finishing with the NFL’s worst record. With Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay withdrawing from consideration, there are 11 current candidates for the Carolina job:
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interview requested
- Mike Disner, chief operating officer (Lions): Interview requested
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interviewed 1/14
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Alec Halaby, assistant general manager (Eagles): To interview
- Khai Harley, assistant general manager (Saints): Interview requested
- Champ Kelly, interim general manager (Raiders): Interviewed 1/11
- Nick Matteo, vice president of football administration (Ravens): Interviewed 1/15
- Dan Morgan, assistant general manager (Panthers): To interview
- Samir Suleiman, vice president of football administration (Panther): To interview
- Brandt Tilis, vice president of football operations (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/15
The Panthers will trade Burns for a 1st & change. Then they need to be realistic, and acknowledge the team is horrible. They need to trade back in the first 3 rounds gathering picks this year and next and start building a compete roster rather than thinking they are only a player or 2 away.
But we know the NFL, rather an actual rebuild like many teams need; they’ll overpay for FA’s & overdraft for a player they think will put them over the top. And they’ll stay sub .500 even longer!
Let’s Go Brandon!
Tepper will ruin future opportunities for whatever coaches and GMs he hires.
The only thing Tepper seems to be good at is guaranteed contracts for his coaching staff and GM.